TEAM Energy Blogs

As part of our Display Energy Certificate (DEC) service, we are required to issue a Recommendation Report alongside the DEC if one is not currently in place or the existing one has expired. A Recommendation Report contains specific energy-saving measures that were identified as part of a site survey. They are valid for seven years …

The role Sigma can play in your M&T We are all aware of the versatile energy management technique Monitoring and Targeting (M&T), which is based on the principle of “you can’t manage what you don’t measure”. M&T enables you to simply and continually measure, understand and optimise your energy consumption. The technique supports: The detection …

In 2002 the EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings was introduced. The notion was to make people aware of the impact of climate change and reduce the energy consumption of buildings and carbon emissions. The principle behind the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations (EPBR) is to make the energy efficiency of a building …

The purpose of a DEC (Display Energy Certificate) is to exhibit the energy performance and the efficiency of a building to members of the public and building users. This is illustrated in a simple graph format on a scale of A-G. If you’re new to energy management, looking after a public building, or have never …

Our Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) team has already started work on ESOS audits for a wide variety of organisations ranging from the legal, financial and engineering sectors to charitable and research institutions. To try and assist those who are thinking about how to structure and plan their own ESOS compliance, we have put together …

When it comes to the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework, all qualifying businesses are required to report on their annual emissions and provide a narrative commentary of any energy efficiency actions. Provided within the Environmental Report Guidelines, which were updated earlier this year, this table gives the basics of what you need to …

It’s true that people use an outsourced energy bureau to maximise their cost recoveries. Our customers recover five times more on average than the cost of the service. A typical service that we provide includes managing, checking and processing your utility bills, verifying your energy data, and negotiating with utility suppliers for cost recoveries. But …

For many organisations, the year-end is April and for many organisations, budgets are set based on what the spend was for the previous year. This is the case for council and NHS trusts. Due to pressures of budget cuts, it’s especially important for them to present the most accurate figures on their energy spend. It …

You may have been fortunate, falling under the radar for all sorts of environmental legislation, to have never had to learn the acronyms CRC, ESOS, DEC, GHG. However, this next one is one you will have to learn. CCL – the Climate Change Levy is coming for you, it’s coming for everyone. CCL has been …

What does it mean for you? The new Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting framework (SECR) comes into force on 1 April this year. It contributes to the government’s Clean Growth Strategy which encourages business and industry to reduce their energy production by 20% by 2030. Building on existing mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reporting and the …

It’s been over 12 months since we undertook a business improvement project that included a thorough business process analysis of our Bureau services department. This analysis, coupled with the implementation of a management information tool and an increase to staff volume by 25%, led to significant improvements within the Bureau. A key part of this …

Energy budget setting is not easy when the cost of electricity and gas is an ever-changing picture. To help make your energy budget setting a more accurate and simple process, here are a few tips. 1. Maximise the accuracy of your historical data Inevitably, a large part of estimating for the future involves looking back …

As we launch the 2019 roadmap for Sigma, now is a good time to reflect on the journey so far. When EDW Technology acquired TEAM in 2017, they promised to make significant changes for our flagship energy management software, Sigma. Release 10 In spring 2018, a major architectural update delivered a brand-new look Sigma with …

Are you lucky enough to have a Christmas shutdown or even just the extra days where your offices aren’t open at Christmas and New Year? If yes, then take the chance to let these non-working days do some energy management work for you! It’s an ideal time to measure the baseload energy usage in your …

Energy surveys and data validation can both have a positive effect on managing your energy usage as well as your budget. These can be completed as a one off, or as part of a regular programme, depending on your objectives. An energy survey alone can identify existing and potential issues relating to energy usage. A …

If you have regularly been monitoring and reporting on the greenhouse gas emissions of your organisation over the past few years; chances are you’ve seen a reduction. Which is great. But do you really know what has caused this change? Have you looked deeper at the underlying information to work out where this has come …

At this time of year, we all revisit the heating controls and turn on the lights earlier at home. It’s not so straightforward for businesses; with numerous people occupying the premises and large, complicated heating and cooling systems. So, if you’re responsible for the energy management in your building and the comfort of your organisation’s …

July 2019 will be the final reporting deadline for CRC Phase 2 and we already know that the fiscal element of this scheme is due to be replaced by an increased Climate Change Levy (CCL) rate. But what does this mean for those who have been participating in CRC since it started in 2010, both …

10 years ago, as part of the Energy Performance in Buildings Regulation, Display Energy Certificates (DECs) were launched in England and Wales. In October 2008, DECs became a legal requirement for all buildings in the public sector and publicly funded organisations where members of the public access buildings. The purpose of a DEC is to …

What is the RHI? The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was introduced to support technologies that generate heat from renewable sources. The non-domestic phase of the scheme provides organisations, large or small, income for generating their own energy. We’ve put together answers to some of the questions we get about the scheme: What sort of return …

From 1 April next year the Climate Change Levy (CCL) applied to all business electricity, gas and solid fuel use is increasing significantly. This is primarily to offset the loss in revenue that the government will suffer as the CRC scheme comes to an end next year. However, for those who have never been part …

An important date to be aware of for your ESOS phase 2 audit is 31 December 2018. This date must be included in your 12 months’ worth of energy data. So, if you start Phase 2 now, this date will be included, and you will reduce the risk of missing deadlines and you will avoid …

In a recent webinar presented by our procurement partner, Tradition Energy talked about energy risk management and why it is vital for businesses. With energy procurement an important factor in an energy management strategy, managing risks can be a complicated game of finding the sweet spot between taking advantage of market opportunities and leveraging all …

In the run-up to the enforcement of the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) and since its implementation, we have been busy working with clients to ensure they are compliant with the new regulations. Buildings with an Asset Rating of an F or G cannot be leased out to new tenants; unless energy efficiency improvements …

Is it the “Same old, same old…”? Energy Services Coordinator, Abigail Basketter, asks the question. In many ways, yes, the CRC Annual Reporting process is full of repeated activities and communications that have become well-rehearsed over the years. But the CRC reporting process has created some transformations in our sector that are worth talking about. …

A Display Energy Certificate (DEC) is designed to show the energy performance of public buildings. Public Sector organisations with buildings exceeding 250m2 that are frequently visited by the public are obliged to display a valid energy certificate and have an up to date Recommendation Report (RR). Failure to do so could result in penalties. First …

What is an Air Conditioning Inspection Report? If you have an Air Conditioning System with a cooling capacity of 12kW or more in your building, you are required to have a valid Air Conditioning Inspection Report (ACIR) and a certificate in place. An inspection of the system should take place every five years and there …

What is a Non-Domestic EPC? An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), rates how energy efficient a building is. The certificate will tell you three key pieces of information: firstly, it will grade the building for efficiency from A to G (A is the most efficient grade); secondly it will give suggestions for improving the efficiency of …

The deadline for ESOS Phase 2 is 5th December 2019. Although this deadline is over 20 months away, TEAM’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme’s lead assessor, Justine Grant, gives 7 reasons why you should start now: Quality Lead Assessors are a requirement and they will be more in demand the closer you get to the deadlines. …

As of 1st April, DCP161 will be effective. Introduced by Ofgem, this new regulation will allow utility companies to charge a penalty rate when their commercial customers draw more power than expected. DCP161 changes the Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement (DCUSA) and will introduce Excess Capacity penalties for Half Hourly (HH) electricity supplies. …

Ever wondered what your Display Energy Certificate really means? Or why your electricity bills are so high? Knowing the total energy consumed each year and a rating based on that can be useful, but it’s only when you get down to the detail of that energy use that you can effectively start to target savings. …

Last year was another busy year for the Energy Services team, delivering over 750 Display Energy Certificates (DECs) to our clients. Our client base is extensive and reflects the expertise the department has in delivering the certificates to different sectors, with clients including hospitals, universities, schools, museums, local and central government buildings and leisure centres. …

There are multiple benefits for an organisation to use an energy bureau. Here are some of the benefits for handing over responsibility of your invoices and your finance reporting to an outsourced office. Maximised Cost Recovery The main motivation for organisations to outsource is financial savings. Whilst huge savings are not guaranteed, a bureau service …

From April 2018, a new legal standard for minimum energy efficiency will apply to rented commercial buildings. These changes will make it unlawful to rent or lease a commercial property with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating below an E. This will expand to include all privately rented property from 1st April 2023. What is …

Get to grips with your Carbon Reporting Commitment (CRC) evidence pack in time for the new year. Tis the season to be updating my CRC evidence packs. Not quite the festive delight I was hoping for in December, but an important job nonetheless. As Energy Services Co-ordinator at TEAM, I look after CRC requirements for …

As we approach the second phase of ESOS’ 4-yearly obligation, now is a good time to consider what steps to take to make the process as painless as possible. TEAM’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme’s lead assessor, Justine Grant, explains how to facilitate this process. ESOS Qualification Date The date that must be included in your …

If energy efficiency measures are to make a significant contribution to organisations across the UK, measurement and verification of actual energy savings are needed to demonstrate their short- and long-term impact. With this in mind, TEAM’s Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP), Helder Galrinho, explains why independent specialists, like TEAM, prove vital when it comes …

Sixteen businesses have been fined more than £93,000 over the last 12-months for breaching their Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), according to the Environment Agency (EA). The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is a mandatory carbon emissions reduction initiative that applies to large organisations in the public and private sectors in the UK. The scheme requires participants to …

Behind every organisation, lies the great energy management IT debate: Software as a Service (SaaS) or an on-premise Solution? Many organisations, both in the public and private sector, are now looking to Cloud computing to help manage their energy consumption. But there are still some companies that believe the on-premise option is a better deal. …

The Government has released its weighty response to the consultation of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI): A Reformed Scheme. TEAM’s RHI Industry Expert Justine Grant explains some of the changes expected to implemented in Spring 2017. In 2015, the Government announced plans to increase funding for the Renewable Heat Incentive from 2016 to 2017. By …

Here at TEAM we have had a great year with a multitude of improvements to our software and services and we would like to share our achievements with you. We have been reaping the benefits of our next generation of Hosted Services – TEAM Sigma Cloud with superfast Gigabit internet connectivity and the highest level …

The UK Government has a variety of strategies in place in order to help us meet our targets for reducing greenhouse gases including promoting Heat Networks, incentivising renewable heating and supporting energy efficiency. Now, they are looking for your views to help develop and support the future for heat in non-domestic buildings. Recognising that those …

Schools in Bedford are being introduced to the Sigma Energy Viewer (SEV) as part of an attempt to get them to pay less for their energy usage. Bedford Borough Council wants to raise energy and water awareness amongst schools and believes the Sigma Energy Viewer is the way forward. Samantha Guy, the council’s Senior Energy …

Ellen Salazar, an ESOS lead assessor at TEAM, explains why businesses should be implementing the recommendations of their ESOS audit. ESOS compliance is mandatory, however implementing the recommendations of an ESOS audit is not. But companies that stand to truly benefit from ESOS are those prepared to go the distance by fully adopting and embracing …

TEAM’s RHI Industry Expert Justine Grant explains why she believes the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme is crucial to the UK’s long-term decarbonisation efforts. The RHI is still with us, but expect changes. The Government announced plans to increase funding for the Renewable Heat Incentive from 2016 to 2017. By 2021 an additional £1.15 billion will …

More than 3,000 companies eligible for the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) still haven’t notified the Environment Agency (EA) of their intent to comply. The Environment Agency has repeatedly issues warnings of the substantial fines (see below table) that will be imposed on organisations that do not comply by 29th January. Companies that miss the …

Businesses who have not started their Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) compliance are being sent letters and urged to take immediate action. Up to 3,500 companies still haven’t notified the Environment Agency (EA) of their intent to comply. Under current legislation, over 10,000 of the UK’s largest businesses must conduct a detailed energy audit across …

TEAM’s Solutions Director Tim Holman explains why he believes organisations and businesses should be embracing cloud-based energy management tools. Many organisations, both in the public and private sector, are now looking to cloud computing to help manage their energy consumption. Those with multiple sites are looking at ways to share energy data with a large …

Have you met the ESOS Deadline? The ESOS deadline has been and gone and you’ve notified the Environment Agency that you wish to have an extension to meet the compliance deadline… Or have you? According the latest figures, out of the 10,000 companies that meet the requirements for the ESOS legislation; i.e. have more than …

As the ESOS scheme nears its deadline a newsletter offering tips on compliance and how to avoid enforcement action has been released by the Environment Agency (EA). Despite the 5th December 2015 deadline the EA does not expect to take enforcement action for late notification provided it is received by 29th January 2016. However, companies …

In February this year the Government announced proposals which could see Display Energy Certificates (DECs) for 54,000 public buildings in England and Wales abolished. The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said it was considering removing the legal requirement for DECs in public buildings such as town halls, swimming pools and schools – or …

Ellen Salazar explains how TEAM can help reduce disputes relating to energy billing charges between landlords and tenants. Many organisations who own or manage multiple or multi-let properties, claim that their energy billing system frequently causes problems and can be very time consuming. Landlords are being left out-of-pocket and conflicts relating to energy charges are …

It’s been 12-months since the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) was introduced and by now many qualifying businesses are fully aware of the looming 5th December deadline. ESOS applies to all organisations that employ more than 250 people or companies with both an annual turnover of circa £40 million and a balance sheet of circa …

In a bid to increase their chances of winning and retaining customers many suppliers are looking to provide industry standard EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) billing, which is where TEAM can help. TEAM’s Managing Director Paul Martin explains why electronic utility billing or EDI can be a major customer retention tool. “The ability of a supplier …

The water market in England is changing, it will mean for the first time that all businesses, as well as public sector organisations, will be in a position to choose their supplier of water. The changes, which are set to be introduced in April 2017, will kick off a nationwide competitive market. In a bid …

With the ESOS scheme workload increasing at TEAM, we caught up with our Energy Services Manager, Ellen Salazar to find out more. Demand for the ESOS scheme surveys is growing daily and in a bid to keep up with the growing demand we’ve brought in extra resources. TEAM’s Carbon expert, Henry Dougherty, has attended an …

With the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) deadline creeping closer, identifying sites, completing audits, analysing data and compiling the final report in less than 10 months will be no mean feat. Ellen Salazar, Energy Services Manager at TEAM, explains how we’ve been helping our customers achieve ESOS compliance. With nine months to go until the …

In this next post in our series of Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) we recorded our response to the call for evidence relating to IRMAs. As always we are on hand at TEAM to answer any additional questions you may have about IRMA’s for RHI to help you through the application process. 1. What is the …

TEAM’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) Diary Ellen Salazar TEAM’s ESOS Lead Assessor ESOS Diary Date: Feb 2015 Since my last diary entry, we’ve started our ESOS building energy survey work! We were up north visiting 2 companies, each very different, but both really interesting. Identifying wastage energy At the first company, we reviewed their half-hourly …

Calling all IRMA Authors! Do you currently or do you hope to support RHI applicants by supplying Independent Reports on Metering Arrangements (IRMAs)? Well watch out! Ofgem currently have a “Call for Evidence” out to consider whether or not IRMAs are worthwhile. Do they add value to the application by helping to clarify the installation …

TEAM’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) Diary Key points to remember and the role of an ESOS Lead Assessor Ellen Salazar TEAM’s ESOS Lead Assessor ESOS Diary Date: 19 Jan 2015 I’m starting a diary to record my experiences to date with ESOS! Since becoming an accredited Lead Assessor via CIBSE, I’ve been up and …

So how do you know you are getting a good quality DEC service? Here’s a checklist… In 2013, according to the Landmark Register, 38,191 Display Energy Certificates (DECs) were lodged in England and Wales. Considering the number of companies and DECs assessors in the country it is amazing to think that TEAM issued 1,270 (3%). …

An Energy Bureau is something that can bring multiple benefits to an organisation – having the bills handled by an outsourced office, taking away the responsibility of querying invoices, having energy & finance reporting completed on your behalf. Often clients find that once the system is in place and fully integrated to their own ways …

“Since the conception of Display Energy Certificates in 2008, those who have a certificate have in most cases displayed them as A3 posters in a prominent place. However when asked about their Recommendation Report most shrug their shoulders. When I inform them that failure to produce a copy of their Recommendation Report could result in …

Our customers receive complimentary access to the TEAM Support Portal. We first introduced the portal in 2013 to offer our customers the opportunity to find everything they need in one, online, secure place. The Support Portal facilitates discussion among TEAM customer and staff, and provides a great number of resources to support them with the …

Fuel cards – simple, aren’t they?  Used by companies to make the transactional process of buying fuel easier for fleet cars, you know that you are getting the fuel at the price you have agreed.  Simple!  But then, isn’t that the same concept as utilities – procure & pay?  And from experience within the energy …

TEAM is pleased to announce the development of our new Sigma Energy Viewer. Having listened to customer feedback and needs, we identified an area whereby we could provide an enhanced user experience. The Sigma Energy Viewer has been designed as a streamlined way to access data from your Sigma Energy Management Software. Similar to the …

“Using the Sigma Mobile Application” Whilst carrying out a number of site visits recently I got the opportunity to try out the new Sigma Mobile Application. As a Display Energy Certificate (DEC) Assessor, it is important that I always have consumption data I can trust, therefore during my site visits I always take meter readings …

Don’t let your database run away with you. It’s easy to put off updating data and basic admin database tasks that you can do later. But a database needs a new breath of life every so often. It’s important to step back and look at what you’ve got, and how and where you’re adding to …

Paul Martin Managing Director The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) according to DECC’s “current thinking” will be launched in June and will require all large companies in the UK to undertake mandatory energy-efficiency assessments for submission to the Environment Agency in 2015. The Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme is the Government’s approach to implementing Article 8 of …

What’s new for CRC Phase 2? Henry Dougherty Energy Consultant Summarising the simplification for Phase 2 of the CRC There are new rules for phase 2 of the CRC – covering the period 2014-19 (following on from transitional rules for  2012-2014). The good news, and the bad news… Welcome simplifications for phase 2 include: Only …

Since the introduction of Display Energy Certificates and Recommendation Reports for all buildings over 1000m2 in October 2008, Schools across the country have invited Energy Assessors (like myself) to carry out surveys for the purpose of ensuring that they are compliant with this UK Legislation. During the 5+ years that I have been carrying out …

On January 9th 2013, the floor area threshold for DECs was dropped for all public buildings over 1000m2 to include buildings between 500m2 – 999m2. However unlike the DECs for the larger buildings, DECs and Recommendation Reports for this new threshold would be valid for 10 years, not 1 year. Certificates for the new area …

Why do you want an Energy Bureau? When asking our customers “Why do you want an Energy Bureau?” we would always anticipate the answer to be the identification of savings, and monetary returns from suppliers. However, in recent years the trends have changed – instead of the highest priority solely being on cash returns, we …

Justine Grant Energy Assessor Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) regulations New regulations came into force on the 24th September 2013. View the vlog: New regulations for the Renewable Heat Incentive Air Quality From the 24th of September 2013 if you have a Biomass Installation you will need to apply for an emissions certificate for your boiler. Changes …

Is your energy dashboard up to the challenge? Over the past year there has been an astonishing number of new entrants to the energy and carbon software market placing energy web dashboards at the forefront of their marketing efforts. Many new dashboard applications are launched claiming to be much more effective in creating energy awareness …

If you are struggling to understand ISO Accreditation here are the ‘whys and hows’ “For three days in March 2013, my head has been pre-occupied with acronyms, audits and re-accreditation. For in March, we have reached the three year anniversary of our initial ISO 9001 & 14001 accreditation, which means that we were due the …

Insight into RHI changes straight from Ofgem From the ESTA aM&T conference TEAM Energy Services Director John Field reports on developments in the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme. Receiving a first hand update from Ofgem in  the presentation ‘Renewable Heat Incentive – Tariffs, changes and opportunities’ by Jacqueline Balian, Head of RHI Operations at Ofgem at …

DECC have announced the much awaited changes to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) energy scheme by Justine Grant Energy Assessor at TEAM The aim of these improvements is not only to implement lessons learnt from previous renewable energy schemes, keeping the RHI in budget, but also to encourage more organisations to participate in the scheme, …

The growing importance of the energy management standard ISO50001 With the dumbing down of the Carbon Reduction Commitment in the UK and other cap and trade mechanisms struggling on the international scene, the ISO50001 energy management standard is emerging as a viable mechanism to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Early signs are that worldwide adoption is likely …

I am going to talk about recent change to the Law concerning display energy certificates. Since the 9th of January public buildings with a floor area between 500 – 1000m2 require the Display Energy Certificate (DEC). Such a certificate has a validity of ten years. Previously it was only larger public buildings with a floor …

What is a carbon footprint for? Well, first and foremost it is actually for giving a total amount of emissions associated within any organisation over one year. Who is likely to need carbon footprint reports? Local authorities are required to produce a local authority Greenhouse Gas Report. Or, any organisation that wants to produce a voluntary …

The Importance of Monitoring Renewables The Importance of Monitoring Renewables View this blog as a video here I’m going to talk about the importance of monitoring renewable energy technologies. Renewables have been around for a little while now, and everybody thinks that they are going to save the planet, reduce our carbon emissions and provide …

Henry Dougherty Energy Consultant We are now more than half-way through this year, and in order to avoid any panic for the 2012/13 report which is due next year, it would be a good idea to start checking the quality of the data and the quantity of the data for all of the supply points …

Justine Grant Energy Assessor and Renewable Heat Incentive expert To view this blog as a video click here Heat metering in the UK hasn’t been terribly popular, it’s quite a niche market. Traditionally it belongs to the district heating environment and we don’t have a lot of that in the UK. It’s very prevalent in …

“At TEAM we are seeing the ratings for DECs improving year on year.” Display Energy Certificates (DECs) are currently required for public buildings with a floor area above 1000m2, with the planned amend to DEC policy to buildings over 500m2 scheduled after 2013. The original objective of DECs was to raise public awareness of public bodies’ …

Have you considered the benefits of the Renewable Heat Incentive? Renewable heat is an emerging area, and it is important that we make the most of the opportunities that it provides for reducing energy bills and carbon emissions. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was launched by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in …

Overcharging on a commercial utility bill is more common than you might think. There are many reasons why an overcharge may occur on a gas, electricity or water bill. From the obvious water leak to an undetected error in the account number, you can see from the chart below, the issues that our energy bureau …

Survey Highlights Energy Management Failings in UK Public Sector TEAM, the UK’s leading energy management solutions provider announced today that the UK Public Sector could be responsible for energy oversights amounting to a staggering £147 million. TEAM, the largest outsourced Energy Bureau Service provider in the UK, identified in a recent survey of nearly 200,000 …