Energy efficiency has become a priority for small businesses and large corporations with many investing big in new highly efficient technologies that can help them reduce their energy costs as well as their carbon footprint.

When we talk about energy efficiency nowadays we can’t go by without mentioning LED lights. Over the past few years Commercial LED Lighting has become the most cost effective commercial lighting system capable of generating savings of up to 90% on business electricity bills.

Today we will list some of the major benefits that LED lighting can bring to your business.

Commercial LED Lighting Benefits

1.    Reductions of between 60% and 90% off your current electricity lighting bill.
2.    Reduction in annual maintenance costs of between 70% and 90%.
3.    Low Energy Consumption
4.    Helping your business to achieve your Carbon Reduction Commitments.
5.    Improved performance of your lighting with reduced noise and heat output.
6.    Potential to secure zero interest funding for the purchase of our solutions from The Carbon Trust.
7.    Efficiency: LED light produce more light per watt than incandescent and halogen bulbs
8.    Lifespan: LED lights last on average 50,000 hours, that is 5 times as long as the best fluorescent bulbs, and up to 30 times longer than halogen bulbs
9.    Shock Resistance: Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs are very fragile; LED lights are made with solid state components making it difficult to break with external shock.
10.    Toxicity: LEDs do not contain mercury, unlike fluorescent lamps.

Gas is a daily traded futures commodity, and much like the stock market, the price of wholesale gas is very unpredictable and can be extremely volatile as demonstrated in the last few years.

Current business gas prices are at a low, mainly driven by excess supply, and with the market coping so well during the recent high demands for the coldest winter in 31-years, there is a likelihood that it will do the same next winter, when it is likely not going to be as cold.  This has led to growing optimism over future supplies for next winter and with further LNG gas imports expected throughout the year, this has given the market plenty of confidence now ready for next winter.

With current UK day ahead gas prices hovering around the 33p/therm mark, and with summer 2010 prices around the same level, winter 2010 at the 40p/therm mark,  it’s in stark contrast to previous year’s gas price history.  But as we already know the market is highly volatile and small things can make a big difference in this market place.

With industrial action at the South Hook terminal postponed until the end of March and potentially further bouts of winter weather due,  will the current low stock levels cope if there is a sudden high demand again.

As the UK economy recovers, there is a growing feeling that future gas prices will begin to trend upwards, with increased demand factors.   With this increased demand will come increased volatility, further increasing the risk for businesses buying commercial gas.

To combat any future price rises, you may think that it would be sensible to buy early and as far forward as possible at this stage.   But with new flexible ways of purchasing gas, this may not be the best thing to do.

With new risk managed approaches to commercial gas purchasing direct from the wholesale market,  this allows you to fix prices upfront, but still have the flexibility to improve them as the market moves.  These new flexible gas products are great, but this is of course still no guarantee to the getting the lowest gas price.  But unlike a traditional contract you do get the opportunity to try.

Of course, no one has a crystal ball but we do have the benefit of hindsight, which is important in benchmarking what could happen in the future.  It’s therefore important that your commercial gas is managed ongoing in order for your business to make informed decision in the future.

Eco Specialists becomes Catalyst’s preferred energy partner

In our continued bid to help our customers benefit from reduced costs and meet their Carbon Reduction Commitments, we are delighted to announce a new strategic alliance with Redditch based company Eco Specialists.  Eco Specialists specialise in the provision of the latest in energy efficient LED lighting that is proven to significantly reduce commercial lighting costs and improve your carbon footprint.

The solutions provided by Eco Specialists enable businesses to benefit from immediate cost savings and in many cases there is absolutely no capital outlay because loans can be secured from The Carbon Trust.  If your business has lighting on for more than 12 hours a day, Eco Specialists solutions can help your company to benefit from:

• Up to 90% saving on your lighting bills
• Reductions in annual maintenance of your bulbs of between 70% and 90%
• Complete Installation service
• Assistance in securing a zero interest Carbon Trust loan
• No capital outlay
• Real cost savings from day one
• Reduction in your businesses carbon footprint

Eco Specialists have recently helped PJS Mouldings to make savings of £160,000 over the next five years.  The implementation took just 3 days and thanks to a loan from The Carbon Trust PJS has no capital outlay, in fact they were cash positive on day one:

“PJS Moulding is a forward thinking, growing business.  We continually strive to drive down running costs, improve our processes and consider the impact we have on the environment.  Engaging Eco Specialists to replace our existing outdated lighting was a simple, hassle-free process.  We are now benefitting from new sustainable lighting, long term lower running costs and without having had to find any cash to do it.  It’s a win-win situation!”

Phil Smith, Managing Director of PJS Mouldings

LED LIGHTS THE FACTS:

• 80% reduction in lighting costs
• Saving £14,000 in energy bills in year one
• Savings of over £57,000 in energy costs over 5 years
• Savings of over £12,000 in maintenance costs
• Cash positive of £12,800 by end of year one
• 212 replacement tubes using the latest energy saving LED lights
• 3 days to install
• Interest free loan secured from The Carbon Trust ensured no capital outlay
• True daylight colour enabled more accurate colour recognition for machinists
• PJS lighting used 18 hours each day
• Supply, installation and maintenance all provided by Eco Specialists

To find out how your company can benefit from similar savings call Paul Maddox on 0845 366 6969, email catalyst@ecospecialists.co.uk or click here for further information on our commercial LED lights.

A Silicon Valley based company called Bloom Energy, has finally launched its new commercial energy brokers product the Bloom Energy Server, that could change the way companies buy business energy in the future.  The Bloom Energy Server is a large metal box about the size of a small van, which can generate electricity from a wide range of different fuels, and at the same time producing very low greenhouse gas emissions.  This could be a new type of renewable energy source, and unlike traditional renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels, each solution produces a constant source of energy for years, which could allow companies to be self sustaining or even disconnect themselves from the national grid.

What Is The Bloom Box

The product that has been dubbed the “power plant in a box”, is in fact a new type of large fuel cell, capable of generating 100 kilowatts of electricity, which uses solid oxide fuel cells, which generate electrical power through an electrochemical reaction between oxygen and an additional fuel such as natural gas, ethanol gas and even landfill gas, which causes electrons in the cell to flow through the ceramic materials which in turn generates an electrical current to power businesses or homes.

The Future Market – The shape of things to come

Will this new product be the start of the end for traditional forms of energy generation, and could this lead eventually to every business and home having there very own mini power plant on site.  Well only time will tell, for the time being this product remains out of the price range of most small businesses, and its long term viability and reliability remain to be seen.  

We would like to see how the market takes to this new product over the coming months and what rival competitors now bring to the market following this launch.  This new technology, like anything will develop over time and once mass produced, we will see the cost point come down to a level that makes it viable for everyone.  We don’t expect this to ever be a perfect solution but it could make a big difference to future generations and go along way to a reliable and sustainable form of energy.

In Summary

With the pending introduction of the UK carbon reduction commitment scheme, it is highly likely that we are going to see a big uptake in these new types of technology as business energy brokers look to advice clients on reducing their overall carbon emissions in the future.  Many questions on the reliability and the long term value of this product remain to be seen.  However we look forward to seeing what happens in the future, and what additional technology breakthroughs bring to the market.

So how do you know if you have a half hour meter?  It’s actually quite straight forward, and all you will need to find this out is a recent copy of your electricity bill.  It doesn’t have to be the latest half hourly electricity invoice, any recent bill will do.  Then on your invoice you need to find your meter point reference number or MPAN for short.  This is a numerical version of your tariff and supply point details, and is unique to your supply.

This is how half hourly suppliers’ mange to identify your supply details and price up your electricity requirements.  The MPAN is a series of numbers, normally in a box and usually identified with a large S at the front.  In nearly all cases theses number are split up into two lines with 8 numbers at the top and 13 numbers at the bottom.

Youtube - How to find out if you have a Half Hourly meter?

The bottom line is the part that’s unique to your half hour supply, and this is how your supply details are used by a supplier.  It’s actually the top part that allows you to identify if you have a half hourly meter.

And you need to look at the first two digits of this top line, if these two digits are both zeros then you have a half hourly supplied meter and you will need to speak to a specialist half hourly supplier such as Catalyst in order to obtain comparative quotes.

If these two numbers are not “00” then it will be one of these – “03,04,05,06,07,08” which indicate that you have a non half hourly meter or NHH supply.  In some cases if you have a very small supply then it may fall into a domestic meter profile which is indicated as a “01 or 02” on your bills.

The thing to note here is that if your not sure if you have a half hourly supplied meter, then you can always just ring your supplier and ask them.  Some suppliers deliberately don’t show the top line on invoices any more for exactly that reason.  As it offers a reason for you to engage with them, and gives them the ability to up sell additional services.

If you want to compare half hourly suppliers or need help in identifying if you have a half hourly meter, please feel free to contact a member of our team.

Each one will be approximately the size of the Royal Albert Hall and will go along way towards increasing the storage capacity for the UK gas market.  It is estimated that the caverns could hold about five days of gas consumption, which would add about a third on to the existing 11-days current capacity.

They are a common geological feature naturally filled with salt, which will be leached out, leaving space for gas to be pumped in. Such caverns are already used on land.

Recent supply and demand situations such as the recent cold weather have helped to highlight the issues regarding the lack of gas storage in the UK.  And with more dependence on abundant healthy gas supplies to supply gas fired power stations it couldn’t have come at a better time for large commercial gas users.

Business Gas customers have been recently been effected by the lack of storage when their gas supplies were cut off last month to divert the supply to energy generators to ensure we had enough supply of electricity.

The government along with the regulator Ofgem, have been aware that the lack of gas has been one of the biggest threats to the UK’s energy security.

This project may help to encourage other companies to invest in long term commercial gas storage which would help to ease supply and demand factors that have a strong influence on uk gas prices.

Do you think we should have more gas storage in the UK?

To make sure you get the best gas and electricity prices and to enable you to do a gas price comparison it can be easier to employ the service of an energy broker.  They are able to provide prices from a wide range of suppliers and deliver these on the same day, allowing you to make an informed decision.  They will also be able to provide practical advice on the type of contract and the length of contract that best suits your business gas requirements.

While the recent nationwide freeze has dominated the headlines it has also highlighted the fact that gas is increasingly being promoted as a clean fossil fuel and the best way to cut emissions.  Gas fired power stations; for example, emit approximately half the carbon emissions of equivalent coal-fired ones.

But politicians are worried that the ongoing increasing reliance on gas imports from countries such as Russia is threatening our own security of supply.  Perhaps additional gas storage in the UK would help ease any further concerns. 

But one thing is for certain, and that UK gas prices will remain volatile driven by key market drivers that effect gas prices such as supply and demand, geopolitical tensions and the weather. By engaging the services of a UK gas broker, will help you obtain a better understanding of these factors and allow you to limit your exposure to these markets.

What do you think about the UK’s lack of gas storage?

Most half hourly meters will have a communications link so that meters can be read remotely on a daily basis by your supplier.  This provides what is known as half hourly data, and half hourly data provides a good source of information for energy management.

We can provide our half hourly customers with free online access to their data and with over 150 free reports we can present this in a format that will help any business identify potential energy savings and help you to produce your company carbon reports.  Monitoring energy consumption is vitally important for businesses that want to cut their costs and environmental impact by saving energy.

Having your half hourly data won’t help you get the cheapest gas and electricity supplier, but it is used by the suppliers to help them determine how you use your energy.  To get the best gas and electricity prices we would always recommend using an energy broker such as Catalyst.  This can help your business do an effective gas and electricity comparison against your current charges. 

Although there are many half hourly electricity suppliers, there are only a limited number of companies that will be able to give to a complete overview of the market.

In summary half-hourly meters and half-hourly data is very common throughout the world, but it is particularly prevalent in the UK, where half-hourly metering is mandatory for all electricity customers with a maximum power demand (peak load) greater than 100 kW.  This means that UK buildings which, over any single half-hour period, draw an average power of 100 kW or more from the grid, will almost certainly have a half-hourly meter, and limited access to their half-hourly data through their electricity supplier. 

However there is a tendency for some commercial energy suppliers to use jargon and acronyms, which mean nothing to the average businessperson simply looking to compare British gas suppliers.

All gas is bought wholesale by the array of suppliers operating within the UK market and then distributed commercial premises via these suppliers. Gas bills are calculated on the basis of how many units of energy are consumed, usually alongside a standing charge. Gas meters measure the volume of gas used in cubic feet or cubic metres and the gas companies convert this into kilowatt-hours.

Among the wide range of energy suppliers there is an equally wide range of gas prices, which are organised through an array of pricing plans. These plans provide a different set of benefits to different consumers, depending on the energy needs of the business.

Most suppliers offer standard or default plans but there are a range of specialist gas suppliers within the UK market that can offer fixed price or flexible products.

The process of switching commercial gas suppliers is less complicated than people think and is completely free when using our service.

“People are buying the dollar,” said Michael Gross, broker and futures analyst with OptionSellers.com. “Funds are liquidating everything else.” The week’s wild commodity price swings underscore how investors aren’t totally committed to betting that the world economy is on an upward track.

Commodities including crude oil futures rose steadily last year in anticipation of strong growth in 2010; now, many investors fear commodities pose too big a risk amid the uncertain outlook.

“Volatility now is here to stay, it’s something we’re going to have to learn to live with,” said Rick Mueller, director of oil markets at Wakefield, Mass., consultancy Energy Security Analysis.

The rush to the exits Friday began when oil prices fell below the 2010 low of $72.43 a barrel. Prices managed to bounce back from around that price three times in the past week, including during Thursday’s steep slide. But on Friday, support crumbled amid concerns about weak oil demand in what is shaping up to be a slow economic recovery.

The breach triggered numerous automatic orders to exit trading positions many investors set up around certain price milestones. Within minutes, oil prices had tumbled to $69.50 a barrel, the lowest since December 15th 2009.

The US dollar benefitted, at one point hitting the strongest point in eight months on the euro, a stronger dollar tends to have a negative impact on US dollar denominated commodities including oil prices.

Meanwhile Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has warned that recent rows over scientific data must not damage efforts to control climate change.  From April, all businesses and public sector organisations that use more than a certain amount of energy must register for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme and, from next year, pay for the carbon they emit.

Major supermarkets and high street chains are some of the biggest consumers of electricity who will be obliged to take part in the mandatory scheme. As a result, the practice of leaving doors open to attract passing customers or maintaining bright illuminated signs and window displays through the night may end, the agency says. 

There is a need to look at alternative methods of lighting such as commercial LED lighting, which is more energy efficient and more cost effective than traditional lighting.

The scheme is part of the government’s attempts to improve energy efficiency to meet the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 by at least 80% compared to the 1990 baseline.

Tony Grayling, head of climate change and sustainable development at the Environment Agency, said: “The CRC is an opportunity for large businesses and public sector organisations to play their part in reducing dangerous carbon emissions.

“But for businesses the main motivation to cut their energy use will be their bottom line. By cutting energy use businesses stand to benefit from lower energy bills, and could be financially rewarded through the CRC if they perform well in the energy efficiency stakes.”

Around 5,000 firms and public sector organisations which use more than 6,000 MWh of electricity – equivalent to an annual bill of around £500,000 – will take part.

After registration this year, they must record their consumption, and from next April, buy allowances for each tonne of carbon they emit.

The agency will also publish an annual league table of the best and worst performers. Those at the top of the league will receive financial rewards, those at the bottom will be fined.

In an interview with the Observer newspaper, Ed Miliband said that recent controversy over the science behind climate change should not undermine the case that the planet’s climate is changing.

Earlier this month, the Information Commissioner’s Officer ruled that a University of East Anglia unit involved in a row over stolen e-mails on climate research breached rules by withholding data.

In recent days, it also emerged that the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) may have exaggerated claims about the melting of the Himalayan glaciers.

“It’s right that there’s rigour applied to all reports about about climate change but I think it would be wrong that when a mistake is made it’s somehow used to undermine the overwhelming picture that’s there,” Mr Miliband said.

Bglobal has supplied British Gas Business with smart metering services under a preferred supplier framework contract since July 2006. The new agreement is a variation to this framework which will guarantee delivery of a fixed programme of meter installations by the end of the current calendar year.

Also, Bglobal announced the signing of an agreement to deliver end-to-end smart metering services to new electricity market entrant Dual Energy Direct Limited or Dual.
 
Bglobal will supply, install and service its latest generation of smart electricity meters to Dual’s business customers in the UK from April 2010 onwards in support of ambitions growth plans. Bglobal will also supply data collection and analysis services and its web-based energy management software platform.

http://www.dual-energy.co.uk/
 

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) today announced the so-called feed-in tariffs that will be available to businesses and households that install renewable energy systems from 1 April. Under the feed-in tariff scheme, households and businesses that install renewable energy systems will receive money from their energy supplier based on how much energy they generate, providing a further incentive to invest in technologies such as micro wind turbines and solar panels.

However, the level of the tariffs has been seen as central to the success of the scheme, with renewable energy firms and NGOs arguing that the government’s proposals to ensure the tariffs offer no more than a five to eight per cent return on investment are not ambitious enough to drive widespread uptake of onsite renewable energy technologies, particularly among businesses.

Wayne Mitchell, head of corporate sales at npower, explains further: “Poor credit ratings mean insurance companies are withdrawing credit insurance for businesses, a necessary guarantee that allows them to negotiate contracts with suppliers. This is impacting businesses’ access to essential supplies like energy and in the worst cases, could lead to tighter payment terms, restricted forward purchasing and even security deposits.

In 2009 more than £100m worth of insurance was withdrawn for our business customers and we predict it will continue to be an issue for many businesses in 2010.

“That is why we are calling on businesses, energy suppliers and credit insurers to work together to avoid a credit crisis and prevent businesses facing challenges in securing energy supplies. There needs to be open dialogue and information sharing so that financial decisions are based on real-time data and are not solely reliant on the information held by Companies House.”

npower is also working closely with the Major Energy Users Council (MEUC) to reach businesses and bring to their attention the importance of carefully managing credit insurance. 

Andrew Buckley, chief executive at the MEUC said: “This is a major issue for our members and we want to help them avoid any difficulty in negotiating energy contracts due to statutory accounts that bear no resemblance to their current situation.

“We believe that increased openness is the only way forward to ensure that suppliers and credit insurers have the full picture before making decisions about a business’s financial health. Everyone needs to work together to ensure that out-dated credit ratings do not impede the UK’s economic recovery.”