Learn Six Energy Efficiency Strategies to Future-Proof Your Businesses at EMEX 2016

LONDON, November 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Britain faces at least two years of economic "turbulence" and a period of "fiscal uncertainty" as the country prepares for Brexit in 2019 and the prospect of a clean break with the EU, the Chancellor, Philip Hammond has warned. Lord Redesdale, CEO of the Energy Managers Association warns businesses to act now and reduce their energy demand. Energy prices will rise by an estimated 50% over the next 5 years while demand will exceed current grid capacity this winter. Also, UK's commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 2020 will impose tighter regulations on commercial properties and create new laws on business energy efficiency taxation. Energy Management is essential to any business if you want to control costs, be fully compliant with legislation and enhance the organisation's reputation.

EMEX (www.emexlondon.com) and its community are returning to the ExCeL Centre in London on 16^th and 17^th November with a packed programme spread across 4 free-to-attend CPD-accredited seminar theatres. This content, curated by the Energy Managers Association and its Board of major energy users, will include the opportunity to meet with top industry experts, peers and numerous leading suppliers that will unveil the latest technology and energy efficiency strategies available right now.

Organisations like Network Rail, Land Securities, Local Councils, Ministry of Defence, National Grid, E.ON, Unite Students, Servest Group, Bourne Leisure, British Sugar, Costa Express, Port of Milford Haven, Water Plus, University College London, Bank of England, Skanska, BIFM, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), House of Commons, The Body Shop International, Pets At Home, Total Gas & Power, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Greater London Authority, Broad gate Estates, Queen Mary University of London, Lloyds Banking Group, and Regent Street Management Direct are confirmed to speak at EMEX 2016.

1. Saving Energy through People 

One of the most important energy efficiency measures is training. You could save up to 30% on your utility bills. The latest developments in behavioural change can help your business to engage with your staff so they become active players in reducing operating costs while improving sustainability credentials, all this with no capital outlay and no interruption of day-to-day business.

Experts, such as the Operations Improvement Manager at British Sugar, the Senior Sustainability Manager at Skanska, the Energy and Environmental Manager at the Bank of England, the Energy and Utilities Advisor at the House of Commons and the Energy and Sustainability Manager at University College London, all specialists in behaviour change, to name just a few, will share their experience. Their presentations, in the Siemens theatre, will leave you better equipped to deliver energy efficiency in your organisation from one-off projects to a strategy that is embedded in staff culture.

See seminars in Saving Energy Through People Track.

2. Reducing Energy Use in the Built Environment. 

About half of CO2 emissions in the UK come from energy used in our homes and buildings leading the UK Government to implement tougher regulations in the built environment. Get on top of new Government energy standards, assess risks and, where necessary, act now to make improvements that ensure buildings exceed the minimum energy efficiency standard or face the prospect of the value of your assets decreasing significantly. By April 2018, it will be unlawful to renew or grant new leases for residential, or commercial property with an EPC rating below "E" unless registered as an exemption. By April 2020, the regulation will be extended to apply to ALL residential lettings (both new AND existing).

By simply commissioning or upgrading existing systems, you can expect energy savings of 20-40%, which typically represent a simple payback of less than 3 years. With over 120 exhibitors ranging from major utilities to brokers and consultants, equipment manufacturers to training companies and showcasing a broad range of energy efficient solutions and services under one roof, EMEX has become a unique opportunity to learn about the new technology, systems and services available in this fast changing environment. There are a number of talks about Energy Use in the Built Environment.

3. Optimising Costs Through Sustainable Operations 

One area of operational expenditure that has been largely overlooked, but which has substantial potential to deliver savings, is the cost and use of indirect materials and resources, such as water, energy, maintenance and hidden value in assets. Beyond price, there are further financial considerations associated with buying and using these key resources. Energy efficiency is already a well-established part of the corporate and social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability agenda. Businesses committed to safeguarding their reputation for corporate responsibility - and the commercial value attached to that - have no option but to meet the challenge of developing sustainable operations.

Applying silo thinking to operational management rarely delivers the maximum savings possible. A far more effective approach is to focus on the whole operation and identify the interdependencies between each function. With this broader view, it is possible to develop and implement solutions that deliver greater cost reductions by achieving the following results: Increase energy efficiency across multiple facilities; reduce maintenance costs; reduce water consumption; decrease production downtime; remove supply chain costs; deliver a return on investment; increase business assets value; enhance workplace productivity.

Start implementing all the necessary improvements by mapping out the opportunities and building a solid business case to get a sign-off from board of directors and company executives. There are a number of informative seminars here.

4. Capturing the Full Benefits of Demand Flexibility 

The UK is entering a period of energy transition. The main forces driving this transition are a growing consensus about the scale and importance of climate change, the need to ensure secure energy supplies for the UK in the face of rising global demand and an ageing and centralised grid. There is an urgent imperative to re-shape policy in order to decarbonise the energy that we use, evolve infrastructures and to secure sustainable local generation supplies for the long term. The UK's energy market mix is already fast changing with a fast growing interest in flexible strategies that empower end-users to manage their consumption, mitigate intermittency in supply, lower their costs and generate new revenue.

At EMEX, National Grid will present Power Responsive, a stakeholder-led programme of work to stimulate increased participation in the different forms of flexible technology in Britain's energy markets. They also plan to facilitate the rapid growth of demand-side solutions.

Demand Reduction is a key area for policy makers and companies this year, as this winter will see a very tight margin between supply and demand. The EMA will be launching Dynamic Response, which will offer a new solution to this problem - flexible load shifting through battery storage from off-peak to peak periods. This system will help you reduce costs through reduction in expensive peak time pricing, reduce transmission charges and deal with security of supply issues. This new technology will be rolled out in the next couple of years. Seminars on how you could incorporate this system into your business and actually make a profit will be explored in the presentations found in the DONG Energy theatre.

With the deployment of demand-side response systems and energy storage, renewables will play a central part of generation on the grid. How the electricity codes will need to be amended will be covered, and the work of the EMA in lobbying for these changes will also be highlighted.

5. Increasing Renewables in your Energy Mix 

Renewables now account for 25% of the UK electricity generation, which is up from 9% in 2011. Switching to renewables and green-tech is a substantial and yet untapped opportunity for most businesses to reduce costs and meet carbon emission targets rapidly.

At EMEX, Good Energy will launch their new web platform for business customers to enhance transparency and control of their energy supply with the ability to match with local renewable power generators. DONG Energy is leading the way in the development of sophisticated tools that enable businesses to be more flexible in the way that energy is consumed. It has come up with a unique way to help balance its own generation at times when the wind doesn't blow. Corona Energy, a leading independent energy supplier to UK businesses will offer expert advice on energy efficiency, with a fresh approach to managing your energy usage presented at the show.

Alternatively, instead of buying all of your energy from suppliers, you can install renewables technology, also known as micro generation, and low-carbon technology to generate your own. ENERCON UK, Emergya Wind Technologies, Lightsource Renewable Energy, Norvento Wind Energy and others will present the latest technologies to generate energy from wind, sun and biomass fuel.

Also presenting at the show, Origami Energy is an ambitious new technology company, created with the objective of developing the technology and financial systems that are required to connect, control and actively manage a large network of existing energy generating / energy using / energy storing assets connected to the electricity grid. Learn about all of these in the Renewable Power Generation track.

6. Get ready for the UK water market de-regulation 

Businesses need to start planning now for the most radical changes in the water industry for a generation. From April 2017, over 1.2 million eligible businesses and other non-household customers in England will be able to choose their supplier of water and wastewater retail services. The smallest high street shops to the largest public authorities will be able to shop around and choose their retailer or renegotiate the existing deal.

If you prepare well for the changes in advance, deregulation of the water industry presents a fresh opportunity for your company to make significant savings when it comes to managing your utility costs. Companies operating in multiple locations can use just one supplier rather than several, which allows them to negotiate price on a much larger volume and to simplify the billing process. Some retailers will work with such clients to reduce their water bill through the introduction of water efficient kit and metering, in order to form the basis of a Water Performance Contract in which water efficiency savings will be shared by the client and the retailer.

In Scotland, where competition was introduced in 2008, Business Stream achieved more than £35 million in Water Efficiency savings, experienced a 26% increase in customer satisfaction, made available more than £30m worth of discounts, saved public sector customers more than £20m and helped customers save 16 billion litres of water and more than 28,000 tons of CO2 in the first 3 years.

Early birds in the market will snap the best deals, so don't wait until April 2017 to do your benchmarking. Business Stream, SES Business Water, Source for Business, Water Plus (a new joint venture between Severn Trent and United Utilities), The Water Retail Company, Waterscan and Water 2 Business to name a few will be presenting their offerings at EMEX. Check all the free-to-attend seminars and training sessions in the Water Retail Market Opening track.

EMEX is over 3,000 visitors, 120 exhibitors, 100 speakers and 80 training and seminars. 

More info, visit www.emexlondon.com

SOURCE Emex London