From optimizing performance to improving operational efficiencies that drive growth and profitability, energy offers many opportunities to create a competitive business advantage. Earlier this year, we commissioned research that quantifies how businesses are thinking about energy. This research found that energy security and resilience ranks 2nd as a business risk, and companies are increasingly recognizing that energy solutions can help them overcome these challenges and achieve their business goals. They are taking action by implementing measures that improve resilience and put them in control of their energy.
So it was no surprise that when we rounded up our 2018 content, energy optimization, efficiency and resilience comprised our most read content of 2018:
Resilience is a hot topic in energy, but what’s really behind the need for resilience for businesses, and how can it be solved?
Resilience is a hot topic in energy, both for energy companies and the businesses that rely on them. Extreme weather events, such as Hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma over Texas, Puerto Rico and Florida, caused some of the largest electricity outages the US has ever seen. The federal energy regulator, FERC, has a major ongoing case, AD18-7, dedicated to judging whether system operators are doing enough to ensure their grids are sufficiently resilient.
Energy resilience is worthy of study and debate and also critical to business continuity. And there are some strong examples of how it has been done successfully. Here are three of the top myths we hear about what energy resilience means and how to solve it:
The conversation at the BOMA International Conference & Expo focused on the need for innovation to shape the commercial real estate industry, with energy resilience at the top of the requirements list.
Commercial real estate moves at a breakneck pace. And while this speed is great for customers, keeping updated on the latest technology solutions and regulatory impacts can be a challenge for businesses or building owners. With energy resilience at the top of the requirements list for many buildings, companies are required to be compliant but often with little guidance.
Building owners and property managers expressed the following high-level concerns:
So, how do we solve this?
Improve manufacturing operations and cut costs by setting specific, measurable goals.
Manufacturing eased last year from a 13-year high.1 In light of this, manufacturers are faced with the pressures of producing more high-quality goods, with less money, time and resource. Regulations are becoming more stringent and competition is growing in the market. Due to these increased business pressures, there’s a greater emphasis on alternative ways of being competitive. These include improving speed to market with new innovations, operating more efficiently and being more environmentally conscious.
To achieve the goals of lean operation, industrial manufacturers need to constantly monitor, benchmark and improve. KPIs can prove a valuable gauge of progress, helping manufacturers to set and achieve their business goals and maintain critical business resiliency.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) can be a productive route to energy efficiency and lower energy costs. With CHP, in addition to regular electricity, you get heat output which can be used for hot water, steam or cooling depending on your business needs.
The journey to Combined Heat and Power (CHP) offers significant energy cost savings and positive environmental impact and is simple when following these five steps.
Step 1: Determine feasibility
There are three reasons to install a CHP unit: economic savings, resiliency and environmental impact. A CHP unit can only deliver savings when it is running, and is viable in situations where there is a coincidental demand for heat and power for at least 5,000 hours a year. CHP feasibility is determined by conducting a scoping study, which will take into account site-specific issues that may affect a CHP’s suitability, as well as the basic infrastructure in place. Leading providers will offer this study as a complimentary service.
Improve the lifetime sustainability and performance of your CHP with advice from our blog.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is an increasingly important asset for many energy users. Investment in this low-carbon, energy-efficient equipment system provides major benefits.
CHP is the simultaneous generation of heat and electrical energy, usually on-site or connected to a local site network. This produces significant energy savings over the use of conventional energy. Sample results can be:
You can also achieve improved system resilience and environmental impact. While the latter can be difficult to benchmark, they are important markers of your corporate social responsibility, an increasingly visible metric for businesses.
It has been a great year. We look forward to serving you in 2019 and helping drive your business vision forward with innovative end-to-end energy solutions that deliver the energy strategy your business needs.
Sources: 1https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-01/growth-in-u-s-manufacturing-eased-in-october-from-13-year-high
Meghan Cunningham
Meghan Cunningham is Head of Marketing, North America for Centrica Business Solutions. Meghan has more than 10 years of B2B marketing experience and is passionate about bringing sustainable energy solutions to pioneering customers who want to make a difference in their business and the world we share.