How can hospitals tackle PFI energy targets head on?
For many hospitals across the UK, meeting PFI energy usage targets can be challenging. There are myriad examples of how employing the right consultant maximises the energy opportunities, and offers significant financial benefits.
The type of PFI wins available
Concept Energy Solutions has a lot of experience across the UK PFI energy performance spectrum. Our skills in this arena are fully mature, and transferable from sector to sector.
In a recent example, one hospital in the South of England benefitted from savings of £136,970, following Concept’s onsite review aimed at improving performance against PFI energy consumption targets.
The challenge from the hospital’s energy team had been to identify precisely the poor performance against contractual PFI energy goals. Concept was appointed to undertake a preliminary study, to review energy consumption and to identify areas of inefficiency or opportunities where technology would cut energy consumption.
Ultimately, the Concept team found usage was significantly higher than the 59.44GJ/100m3 benchmark, and was creating financial.
The Concept action framework
Concept undertook a thorough site survey, paying close attention to all significant areas of energy use: heating and steam boilers, chillers, ventilation and lighting. The assessment was based on energy data provided from meter readings, supplier invoices and AMR /half hourly electricity data.
The survey set out to review actual performance against PFI energy targets, the impact of weather on energy and performance, areas of excessive energy consumption and detailed recommendations for performance improvement.
Outcomes and actions for future change
Achieving PFI targets: When Concept checked the metering on site, it became apparent there was an anomaly in the meter reading and reporting process; in fact electricity consumption had been over-stated. Using revised consumption figures for electricity, the site performance against target is significantly improved; in fact it is below the 59.44GJ/100m3 target threshold.
Energy savings of 10% identified: The building was therefore performing well against published benchmarks. Yet Concept was still able to reveal a range of worthwhile opportunities for energy reduction. Estimated savings of £136,970 were identified and recommended to the client, equating to 781 tCO2 savings and a reduction in costs of 10%. Concept calculates that investment in these measures would pay for itself in under 2.5 years.
Helping UK hospitals to save energy
Concept exhibited at the NHS Confederation conference in June 2016 at Manchester Central, offering advice to healthcare decision makers on how to cut carbon, meet PFI targets and save on energy costs.
“We wish to engage with this sector fully,” says Peter Stockwell, Managing Director of Concept Energy Solutions. “We have become very experienced and capable at supporting PFI operators. We are always delighted to listen to hospital managers’ energy challenges and discuss how we can help.”
Services Concept Energy Solutions provides in relation to PFI contracts:
a) Monthly reporting, so our customers can see how they are performing against target (detailed and/or overview)
b) Annual reconciliation of energy performance and how this translates into financial reward or penalty. We have expert understanding of PFI contracts, for example
c) Where sites are found to exceed target, we carry energy surveys and establish why they are out of line. We then develop a schedule of measures to bring down excess usage
To learn more, contact Concept today.
