UK retail sector takes the lead in energy efficiency

The UK retail sector is one of the industries leading in implementing energy efficiency measures, including high-end building energy management systems, a recent news report has been able to suggest.

Munish Datta, Head of Plan A and Facilities Management at Marks & Spencer (M&S), recently stated: "I think the retail sector as a whole has made great progress, is one of the sectors that is leading in terms of deploying energy efficiency technologies and indeed seeing great benefit from them.

"The retail sector works very closely with the government and with DECC and others to make sure that we have the right policy landscape and we're involved in consultations and it's also harnessing its own efforts and seeing the benefits of its own efforts, not waiting necessarily for the right policies."

Mr Datta believes the sector needs to be aware of the growth of different technologies to improve its energy efficiency and sustainable performances in the future.

He added: "The emergence of technology, smart metering, sensors — all these are opportunities that can, if harnessed, reap more benefits and of course the whole energy management sphere in terms of demand side management, in terms of renewables, in terms of storage, in terms of buildings becoming generators of energy, mini power stations if you will, is going to mean there are new opportunities that we should be looking into."

HeatingSave Building Energy Management System helps support behavioural change efforts to save energy

Behavioural change is always a difficult target to attain, but this is specifically where the HeatingSave Building Energy Management System could help.

HeatingSave has a number of features to prevent employees from adjusting the heating controls and leaving them in setting that can waste fuel. The keypad and display on the front of the controller has two levels of password protection.

These passwords can be changed by authorized personnel locally or centrally using the PC software. The password programming meets the requirements laid down by the Carbon Trust, and the PC software is user ID and password protected too.

Naturally, employees do have the right to set the ambient temperature at a value that best suites their needs, and HeatingSave manages this situation by firstly getting the temperature right so people don't feel too hot or cold. If employees do feel too cold, they can hit a button to increase the room temperature. The heating will be turned up for a while BUT will then automatically turn back — keeping the employee at the right comfort temperature — and saving the employer on their fuel bill.

If you'd like to find out more about the savings enabled by the HeatingSave Building Energy Management System, just contact our dedicated product team, they'll be more than happy to answer all of your questions and queries.