ENERGY USE
PUBLIC SECTOR
IN THE
Realising the efficiency opportunity
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
A
ENERGY USE
IN THE
PUBLIC SECTOR
“The public sector will improve
its energy efficiency by 33%
and will be seen to lead by
example – showing all sectors
what is possible through strong,
committed action.”
National Energy Efficiency Action Plan
contents
Foreword from Pat Rabbitte T.D. Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources2
Foreword from Brian Motherway SEAI CEO3
1
2010 Success stories
2
Public Sector energy demand
4
16
Background
16
The exemplary role of the Public Sector
16
Policy and Legislative Summary
17
3
Public Sector Programme
18
4Monitoring and reporting of energy performance in the Public Sector
21
Background
21
5
4.1
Public Sector energy monitoring and reporting system
21
4.2
Approach to tracking progress towards 33%
23
4.3
Results of 2010 Data Exchange
24
4.4
Monitoring and reporting system pilot
26
4.5
Next steps in the monitoring and reporting process
26
Energy savings in the Public Sector
27
5.1 Overall Public Sector savings
27
5.2 Savings reported by the pilot participants in the Monitoring and Reporting System
28
5.3 Public Sector Programme - The catalyst for additional savings to 2020
28
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
1
“Saving energy in the public sector is not just an
environmental imperative but also a financial one.”
Foreword by Pat Rabbitte T.D. Minister For Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
Every year the public sector spends more than €500 million on energy. Through strong,
committed action exemplar public bodies are demonstrating the extent of efficiency savings
that can be achieved, particularly through robust reporting of energy consumption.
This Government remains firmly committed to continuing to lead the transformations necessary
to reach the public sector target. Collaboration and commitment at all levels will be the key.
We know there is much that can be done – the 33% public
sector target, as set out in the Energy Policy Framework and
the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, is achievable, but
is reliant on an improvement in how we collect and interpret
energy use data from the public sector. The data presented
in this publication represents an important early step in
developing a thorough understanding of energy usage in the
public sector. While a large amount of consumption data has
been collated into the National Public Sector Energy Database,
there are many significant data gaps, especially with respect
to oil and solid fuels. However a more coherent picture will
emerge as more public bodies report more complete data
over the coming years through the monitoring and reporting
system. The submission of consumption data for all energy
types by the biggest 100 energy consumers in 2012 will be
a significant step forward in this regard.
This publication is intended to complement the second
National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP), which looks to
the public service in the first instance. The data that has been
collected for the NEEAP shows that we are making progress
towards the 33% energy saving target by 2020 but that we
need to focus our efforts where we can achieve the best
results. My Department, along with SEAI, is firmly committed
to continuing to lead the transformations, structures and
frameworks necessary to achieve the public sector target.
Steady progress is already being made – both in terms of inter
agency co-ordination and delivery of savings ‘on the ground’,
for example:
• An expert working group on public lighting that was
established by SEAI and comprised participants from both
central and local Governments as well as the private sector,
concluded that opportunities exist for up to 20-30% savings.
The group developed a clear vision for energy efficiency
in public lighting and outlined a roadmap for overcoming
challenges and for achieving the vision.
2
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
• SEAI and DCENR are working closely with the National
Procurement Service, the Environmental Protection Agency,
ESB Networks and Bord Gáis Networks to develop an energy
monitoring and reporting system for the public sector that
will allow for effective targeting of large energy users.
• The OPW’s Optimising Power at Work initiative is delivering
annual energy savings of approximately €2.6 million
through energy awareness campaigns, training and
low cost investments.
• Dublin Bus reduced electricity and gas usage in garages,
with gas savings in some locations of 34%.
• A survey of energy management in local authorities
undertaken by the County & City Managers’ Association
in conjunction with SEAI and the Water Services National
Training Group identified 384 energy saving initiatives
reported as having been implemented between 2008
and 2010 – with estimated combined savings of €5.4 million
per annum.
More examples of the progress made by exemplar public
bodies are highlighted in Section 1 of this publication.
Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the
exemplar public bodies that are showcased in this publication
– they are showing others what is possible through strong,
committed action. I would encourage others to follow their
lead and realise the efficiency opportunity.
Pat Rabbitte T.D.
Minister For Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
“Several public bodies are well on course to
becoming exemplars in energy management.”
Foreword by Dr Brian Motherway Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
With a target of 33% savings in energy usage by 2020, Ireland’s public sector organisations
are making every effort to cut energy costs by improving energy efficiency. At present prices,
meeting this target would save €150 million per annum.
Experience shows that the opportunities for energy savings
and CO2 emission reductions are real and abundant across
all areas of the public sector. These can be achieved through
improved procurement, operational and management
practices, and retrofitting of buildings and facilities – and at
no detriment to service quality. This potential can also be
leveraged to the wider economy by implementing green
public procurement policies for supplies of goods and services.
The good news is that the tools, supports and experience
are available, and a growing number of public bodies are
showing the way. For example, between 2009 and 2010 over
four hundred public sector facilities have achieved 75 GWh
in annual savings through participation in SEAI’s free Advice
Mentoring and Assessments service.
Public bodies and SEAI are already working together in a
variety of ways. We offer specialist resources and practical
assistance that help you achieve your energy saving goals
faster and smarter, learning from the experiences of others.
Full details can be found at www.seai.ie/publicsector.
This publication gives an overview of progress to date across
the sector and provides a snapshot of practical ways in which
many public bodies are tackling the challenge of improving
energy performance. Several public bodies are well on course
to becoming exemplars in energy management and setting
a benchmark for others to follow, as part of good corporate
governance in the management of public funds.
I invite you to join them.
Dr Brian Motherway
Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
3
1 success stories
Several public bodies are well on course
to becoming exemplars in energy
management and setting a benchmark
for others to follow. We invite you to join them.
STATE BODIES
the background
• There are over 250 state bodies and agencies in Ireland,
operating in areas ranging from energy to communications
and transport to data protection.
• Iarnród Éireann accounts for a significant part of the sector’s
energy consumption, amounting to almost 600 GWh
– the equivalent of the domestic energy consumption for
County Offaly.
The Issues
• State Body tenants are increasingly working with landlords to
improve the energy efficiency of buildings and services.
4
above: Anne Lillis (RPA) and Anne Laure Saluden (Veolia)
• Building Energy Rating targets of A3 and B3, set by S.I. 542
(2009) regulations, create an impetus for the refurbishment
of older buildings to create modern work environments, and
present opportunities for more efficient technologies and
improved building insulation levels.
• Tight fiscal policy and reduced budgets can deter investment
and prioritisation for energy efficiency projects, but there is a
growing opportunity for energy performance contracting and
alternative financing.
• For certain state bodies, limited in-house energy technology
and management experience is being addressed centrally
for larger buildings through support from the Office of
Public Works.
34%
Dublin Bus reduced electricity
and gas usage in garages, with gas
savings in some locations of 34%
437,000 kWh
annual savings by forfás as a
result of lighting and boiler
upgrades are currently 437,000 KWh
per year
• There is a lack of individual accountability for energy use.
This is being addressed through the adoption of energy
management systems and increased awareness.
• Forfás installed a new Building Energy Management System
and carried out lighting and boiler upgrades in its Head Office,
which is now saving 437,000 kWh per year.
The Achievements
• Dublin Bus (pictured above) reduced electricity and gas usage
in garages, with gas savings in some locations of 34%.
• RPA (pictured left) established an Environmental Impact
Steering Group in 2010 to oversee sustainability measures
and a cross-functional Green Team to lead corporate
environmental initiatives.
• A formal Energy Management Strategy was developed by Bus
Éireann, with a target of at least 5% fuel efficiency saving by 2011.
• Údarás na Gaeltachta’s Energy Management Bureau allows
real-time performance management of its buildings portfolio
and achieved an average reduction of 15% of electrical
consumption within four months of implementation.
• ESB Networks, Dundalk, carried out eco-driving training.
Typical fuel savings from the technique are 5-10%.
• By 2015 Bord na Móna aims to have over 50% of its portfolio
supplied by renewable sources – equivalent to powering over
90,000 homes p.a.
• ESB’s Corporate Sustainability Programme with a network of
200 champions, has reduced building energy consumption by
25% and business travel by 24%.
• An Bord Iascaigh Mhara facilitated Energy MAP training for 11 fish
processors, helping them save over €360,000 and 1 million kWh’s.
above: James McHugh (Health & Safety Manager),Shane Doyle (Chief Engineer), Pat Normanly (Employee, Development & Equality Manager),
Aidan McGinty (Assistant Engineer), Chris Quinlan (Procurement Manager, Broadstone), Dublin Bus
5
HEALTH SERVICES
the background
• The HSE has an annual energy bill of over €80 million,
making it one of the largest energy users in the country.
• Acute services are delivered through 50 acute hospitals which
are among the most intensive energy users, accounting for
a significant proportion of HSE energy usage and around
half a million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
The Issues
• The continued emphasis on improved productivity, reduced
costs and the delivery of efficiencies helps to create a focus on
energy efficiency issues.
• The HSE is fully committed to the National Energy Efficiency
Action Plan (NEEAP), and the challenge is to achieve its goal
and secure energy reductions under constrained resources.
6
• Continuous enhanced services in acute hospitals has resulted
in increased energy demand.
• Contracting out energy management services is underway
and provides an opportunity to drive down energy use,
through a contractual commitment from providers to deliver
guaranteed savings. A core strategy is to prove that the Energy
Service Company/Energy Performance Contract (ESCO/EPC)
concept works, and to use energy savings to progressively
fund capital investments.
• Ongoing capital programmes on maintaining and developing
the built infrastructure of the health service provide an
opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of new facilities
and to upgrade existing facilities.
• Win Win – recuperation times, patient and staff comfort,
and contamination control can be enhanced in low energy
buildings where there is increased daylight and natural
ventilation.
above: Willie McClean (Energy Project Manager, North East Area), George Clare (Louth County Hospital Maintenance Manager),
Enda Graham (Project Manager, North East Area), HSE
€600,000
A major retrofit programme in ten
locations is estimated to achieve
over €600,000 in savings per year.
40%
A framework agreement with
a panel of electricity suppliers
achieved an average saving of
40% for the first tranche of
hospital sites tendered.
The Achievements
• A framework agreement with a panel of electricity suppliers
achieved an average saving of 40% for the first tranche of
hospital sites tendered.
• A major retrofit programme in 10 locations is estimated to
achieve over €600,000 in savings per year.
• Energy efficiency measures at Connolly Hospital,
Blanchardstown are set to save over €180,000.
• Stewarts Hospital won ‘Best Energy Service Project in the
Public Sector’ for an ESCO project to design, implement and
manage energy consumption and cost saving solutions with
estimated savings of 3 million kWh.
• Retrofitting of energy efficient lighting at Cavan General
Hospital is on track to achieve 7% saving in electricity use.
7%
Retrofitting of energy efficient
lighting at Cavan General
Hospital is on track to achieve
7% saving in electricity use.
• Extensive refurbishment to St Oliver Plunkett’s Building on the
Louth County Hospital campus is expected to reduce thermal
usage by 1.7 million kWh annually.
• Sustainable design at Dromad Health Centre with passive
ventilation, daylighting, high insulation, and air-tight building
envelope.
• Staff awareness programmes have been implemented in
HSE North West with energy committees, information sessions,
competitions, posters, stickers, articles, and an Annual Energy
Report.
• Tailored versions of SEAI’s Energy MAP training are available
for delivery on a regional basis with commitment from senior
technical and hospital staff. Energy Map programmes are in
progress in HSE Dublin and North East with sites targeting a
minimum of 5% savings from attending the courses alone.
above: The Energy Concession Project Team tasked with managing ESCo projects in the HSE South: Jim Murphy (Head of Energy, HSE), Pat McCarthy
(AND HSE South), Conor Gunn (NDFA), Mark Kane (HSE Estates), Gareth Hickey (NDFA), Peter McGowan (HSE Procurement), Paddy McDonald (HSE Finance).
Missing: Edwina Frawley, Ed Fennell and Tess Donovan.
7
JUSTICE & DEFENCE FORCES
the background
• The combined energy bill for defence, prisons, courts and
An Garda Síochána runs to €44 million per year.
• Energy use in buildings makes up a significant proportion
of consumption in the sector. There are over 1,000 An Garda
Síochána buildings, 14 prisons, 97 courts and 17 barracks,
of which 7 are major installations within the Defence Forces.
• Transport fuel accounts for about 60% of energy consumption
in the Defence Forces and over 50% of energy spend of
An Garda Síochána.
8
• With over €8 million per year spent on electricity and heating
fuel, and over €10 million on transport fuel, An Garda Síochána
is one of the main energy users in the Public Sector.
The Issues
• Addressing the issue of transport fuel use for both the Defence
Forces and An Garda Síochána will require effective fleet
management, eco-driving techniques, regular maintenance
and improved energy performance standards for new vehicles.
• The wide range of building types, usage and age profile,
in multiple locations, increases the difficulty of securing
financial resources to upgrade older facilities. But this can be
alleviated through alternative financing methods such
as energy performance contracting.
above: Airman Bernard Lynch (Defence Forces Energy Manager), Captain Sharon McManus (Defence Forces Energy Manager),
Colonel Jim Foley (Director of Engineering Defence Forces)
14%
The ‘Optimising Power at Work’
awareness campaign achieved
almost 14% savings in energy
consumption in the Courts
Service Phoenix House.
15%
Up to 15% reductions in energy
consumption have been achieved
through awareness campaigns in
participating Garda stations.
25%
A pilot project at Arbour Hill
prison secured a 25% saving on
energy use, for a €25,000 investment
and a payback in one year.
• The collection of real-time data can present a problem in
certain facilities, in particular for gas supplies, and methods
to obtain up-to-date data must be applied.
• A new energy efficient lighting system and smart lighting
controls in three buildings in the Curragh Camp will reduce
annual energy usage from 39,000 kWh to 4,500 kWh per year.
• Formal environmental and energy management systems are
increasingly being considered within the sector, particularly
in the Defence Forces, the Prisons Service and An Garda
Síochána.
• A pilot project at Arbour Hill prison secured a 25% saving
on energy use, for a €25,000 investment and a payback in
one year.
The Achievements
• The Defence Forces (pictured left) are committed to a target
reduction of 3% in energy usage each year to 2020, and to
implementing environmental and energy management
standards such as ISO 50001 and ISO 14001.
• Up to 15% savings in energy consumption have been
achieved through awareness campaigns in participating
Garda stations.
• The OPW ‘Optimising Power at Work’ awareness campaign
achieved almost 14% savings in energy consumption in the
Courts Service Phoenix House, Dublin.
• Prior to adopting their formal strategy, and over a two year
period, the Defence Forces achieved a 10% reduction in
heating oil use and a 5% reduction in electricity use.
above: Darren Heffernan (Arbour Hill Trades Officer), Derek Chambers (Environmental Manager), Dave O’Neill (Arbour Hill Trades Officer),
Conal Healy (Arbour Hill Assistant Governor), Terry Roche (Arbour Hill Chief Officer)
9
LOCAL & REGIONAL
AUTHORITIES
the background
• In 2010 Ireland’s 34 Local Authorities spent approximately
€115 million on energy.
• Water services account for 53% of electricity consumption
and public lighting for 30%. The balance is used for building
lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and
ICT services.
• There are an estimated 420,000 public lights in Ireland
consuming 205 million kWh per year, and costing €35 million
to run in energy costs alone.
10
• 86% of Local Authorities have an energy management
committee in place.
• Almost half the authorities have dedicated Energy Officers
and a third avail of support from an energy agency/bureau.
• There are growing numbers of personnel trained in energy
management with less reliance on external support, leading
to better ownership of energy activities at all levels of
management and administration.
above: Des Foley (Director of Services), Conn Murray (County Manager), Garrett Shine (County Veterinary Officer), Louth County Council
€5.4M
In a survey of 30 authorities, a total
of 384 energy saving initiatives were
reported as implemented since 2008,
with an estimated combined savings
of €5.4 million per year.
30%
30% energy consumption savings at
kerry county council Waste Water
Treatment Plants by retrofitting
fine bubble diffused aeration
systems.
The Issues
The Achievements
• The sheer volume of energy accounts, and related bills for
each Local Authority, require prioritisation and focus on the
largest energy users.
• In a survey of 30 authorities, a total of 384 energy saving
initiatives were reported as implemented since 2008, with
an estimated combined savings of €5.4 million per year.
• Water treatment facilities are managed primarily in terms of
the quality and quantity of water supply, and opportunities
for enhanced energy efficiency are often not examined.
• 60% of Local Authorities have completed, or are in the process
of completing, SEAI’s Energy MAP training.
• The existing tariff structure and un-metered register for public
lighting, which is based on fixed operating regimes and a
limited range of lighting products, cannot account for a move
to more modern technologies.
• There is a lack of standard procurement documents and
technical specifications for new plant and replacement
equipment.
• Energy savings are often considered to be overall budget
savings and are not ring-fenced for further investment in
energy saving technologies.
• Decreasing funding can limit the scope for energy efficiency
upgrades, which some Local Authorities are addressing
through alternative financing methods.
• Energy Efficiency Working Groups for Water Services, Public
Lighting and ICT have been established with potential
opportunities identified for savings of 40%, 30% and 30%
respectively.
• Louth County Council won an SEAI Energy Efficiency Award in
2010 for the Small to Medium User category.
• 45% energy consumption saving was achieved by avoiding
air-conditioning through a low energy passive design retrofit
solution for Louth County Council Offices.
• 30% energy consumption savings were achieved at Dingle
Waste Water Treatment Plant by retrofitting a fine bubble
diffused aeration system into the oxidation ditches.
• Energy savings of 30% resulted for Cork County Council on a
street lighting circuit using a voltage control unit.
above (TOP): Eddie Ryan (Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer), Jim McGuire (Senior Engineer, Water Services), Brian Dunne (Building Facilities Manager),
North Tipperary County Council. North Tipperary have reduced energy consumption by 14.7% from 2007 - 2010. above (lower): Liam Casey, John Horgan,
Adam Stack, Des Fitzgerald, Edwina Scanlon, Louie O’Keeffe, Denis O’Connor, Kerry County Council Waste Water Treatment
11
4
THE FOUR KEY AREAS OF THE DART
APPROACH ARE; DESIGN, AWARENESS,
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY. THIS
APPROACH DELIVERS NEW SCHOOLS
THAT ARE OVER TWICE AS EFFICIENT AS
INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICE.
EDUCATION
Primary and Post Primary Education
The background
• There are 3,305 primary schools with an average of 154 pupils
per school, and 729 secondary schools with an average of
488 pupils.
• The aim of the Department of Education and Skills is to create
energy efficient schools and sustainable workplaces, providing
the best possible learning environment for students and staff.
the Issues
• Awareness measures are being developed to support
the implementation of sustainable energy management
campaigns in a school environment.
• To ensure sustainability and energy efficiency in schools,
the Planning and Building Unit’s energy programme (DART)
is focused on four key areas; Design, Awareness, Research
and Technology. Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs) are
updated by continuing energy research and development.
All new schools must comply with the TGDs.
12
• Education Facilities can be showcases for environmental
management and instil in future decision makers the need to
manage resources sustainably.
The Achievements
• The Department’s energy programme has been operational
since 1997 and has been recognised with sustainable energy
awards at both national and international level for excellence
in design and specification.
• All new primary school projects funded by the Department
of Education and Skills are built to Building Energy Rating
A3 standard or better.
• The first A2 rated Post Primary Research Project Coláiste
Choilm opened in 2011.
• A wall and attic insulation scheme for existing schools was
funded in 2009.
• A school water conservation scheme was funded in 2010.
• Ireland’s first passive schools opening in Spring 2012.
above: John Dolan, Energy Programme Coordinator & Senior Engineer, Department of Education & Skills pictured with the Green Schools Committee
from Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore, an A2 BER rated school.
250
tonnes
University College Cork’s Lewis
Glucksman Art Gallery uses
heat-pump technology to save 250
tonnes of CO2 per year compared to
more standard design practice.
The Department and SEAI have developed a dedicated Energy in
Education website www.energyineducation.ie which includes:
• An on-line facility to apply on-line for a Display Energy
Certificate.
150
To date almost 150 Energy Reviews
have been completed for public
sector educational buildings.
most sites expect to make at
least 8% energy savings within 12
months.
to make at least 8% energy savings within 12 months,
and potential for additional savings in the longer term.
Third Level Education
the Issues
• Guidance and advice on energy savings in areas such as
ventilation lighting, heating, IT equipment and correct use
of renewable resources.
• Thirty three third level institutions delivering education to
180,000 full and part time students.
• Case studies of effective energy management in schools.
The Achievements
• Teaching resources to facilitate pupil involvement.
• The Tipperary Institute in conjunction with the Tipperary
Energy Agency developed what is thought to be one of
Europe’s first teaching modules on energy awareness,
developed for the Bachelor of Science Environmental
and Natural Resource Management course.
• Information on energy efficiency for designers and builders
of schools.
• Energy in Education resource pack –step by step guidance,
based on SEAI’s Energy MAP approach, on how schools can
cut their energy bills with activities for teachers and students.
• An accompanying training course, complimenting An Taisce’s
Green-Schools programme, and involves teachers, pupils and
facilities staff. To date nearly 100 schools have undergone
training.
• To date almost 150 Advice, Mentoring and Assessments
(AMAs) have been completed for public sector educational
buildings. On average, within three months of the review 3%
energy savings have been achieved, with most sites expecting
• University College Cork’s Lewis Glucksman Art Gallery uses
heat-pump technology to save 250 tonnes of CO2 per year
compared to more standard design practice.
• The e3 Energy Management Bureau (pictured above) for DCU,
UCD, DIT, and Trinity College Dublin, has achieved cumulative
energy savings of over €4.8 million in the last 7 years. This
equates to CO2 savings of 23,000 tonnes.
above: Donal McGowan (UCD), Richard Kelly (DCU), Kieron McGovern (Trinity College), Richard Smith (DIT) of the e3 Energy Management Bureau.
13
29%
Through the active and
committed participation in the
OPW’s Optimising Power at Work
Initiative, staff in the Wicklow
District, Revenue Commissioners in
Sandymount, Dublin have achieved
a 29.6% reduction in Electricity
consumption in 2011 compared
to 2007.
CIVIL SERVICE
The background
The Issues
• The 16 government departments and offices of the Civil
Service represent one of the largest property portfolios in the
country with the combined total floor area of over 1,000,000m2
managed by the OPW.
• There is a diverse portfolio of buildings ranging in size,
ownership, occupancy profiles, construction type, age
and levels of energy efficiency.
• All public sector buildings with a floor area of over 1,000m2
require a Display Energy Certificate.
• The portfolio of Civil Service buildings changes over time
through relocation, new service requirements and leasing
arrangements.
• 15-20% of energy use in Civil Service buildings is for ICT.
• OPW’s Optimising Power at Work initiative found:
– 55% of energy consumed in a sample of buildings
was outside occupied hours;
– varying levels of engagement with energy awareness
activities across the sector;
14
above: Martha Byrne, Philip Dooley, Margaret Dunne, Mark McCluskey, Vivienne Dempsey (District Manager), Tony Judd (Energy and Environment Unit,
Revenue Commissioners), John Byrne, Martin O’Dwyer – Wicklow District, Revenue Commissioners in Sandymount Dublin.
45%
Energy usage decreased by 45%
in a two year period at the Irish
Naturalisation and Immigration
Service building, Burgh Quay.
€2.6M
The energy management strategy
co-ordinated by the OPW is
currently delivering annual
energy savings of approximately
€2.6 million through energy
awareness campaigns, training
and low cost investments.
Average energy savings vs. level of engagement
15%
10%
5%
11%
30%
0%
-2%
-5%
-10%
-12%
-19%
AVERAGE ENERGY SAVINGS (LEFT):
The difference between being
committed and having resources
in place is the equivalent of a
30% energy saving.
-15%
-20%
Excellent
Good
Fair
Not participating
Source: OPW Optimising Power @ Work Project
– senior management commitment is essential if staff are
to fully engage with awareness activities;
• Initial promotion of energy awareness has focused on 250
of the larger Civil Service buildings.
– large volumes of poor quality energy data. This is now
addressed through a dedicated web based Energy
Monitoring System allowing automatic collection and
analysis of data for larger buildings;
• The Optimising Power at Work campaign was rolled out in
2010 with a more challenging target of 20% savings by 2012.
– a need to address energy management in smaller buildings.
The Achievements
• The energy management strategy co-ordinated by the OPW
is currently delivering annual energy savings of approximately
€2.6 million through energy awareness campaigns, training
and low cost investments.
above: Government Offices, The Glen, Waterford
• Energy usage decreased by 45% in a two year period at
the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service building,
Burgh Quay.
• Where the OPW campaign has been enthusiastically
adopted by staff the savings are close to 20%, compared to
an increase in energy use of over 10% where there has been
no engagement with staff.
15
2 public sector energy demand
Background
The public sector’s annual energy
expenditure amounts to approximately
€500 million.
The main consumers in the sector include buildings
(e.g. offices, hospitals, schools, prisons), utilities (e.g. water
treatment plants, street lighting), public transport fleets
(e.g. Dart, Bus Éireann, Luas) and other transport fleets such
as ambulances, local authority vehicles, Garda fleet, An Post
fleet and Defence Forces’ vehicles.
The Exemplary Role of the Public Sector
Ireland’s public sector is required by the Energy Services
Directive (ESD), the main EU energy efficiency legislative
vehicle, to act as an exemplar in respect of energy efficiency.
This can be achieved through support mechanisms, energy
efficient procurement, energy management practices, use of
energy efficient buildings and annual reporting. The ESD is
transposed through S.I. No. 542 of 2009, European Communities
(Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services) Regulations 2009.
Regulation 11 of S.I. 542 set a 1,500 GWh savings target for
the public sector by 2016 and introduced a requirement for
public bodies to “fulfil an exemplary role with regard to
energy efficiency”.
The Second National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Ireland
(NEEAP) re-affirms Government’s commitment to a stretching
33% efficiency target for the sector: “The public sector will
improve its energy efficiency by 33% and will be seen to lead
by example – showing all sectors what is possible through
strong, committed action.”
The 33% target is an energy efficiency target and it applies
to all public bodies1, i.e. all public bodies must improve their
energy efficiency by 33% by 2020, equivalent to 3,240 GWh2.
The ESD is set to be largely repealed under the forthcoming
Energy Efficiency Directive, which places energy efficiency at
the core of the EU 2020 energy strategy and requires member
states to retain their exemplar status through energy efficient
public procurement and the delivery of a 3% improvement in
energy consumption in central government buildings.
1 For the purposes of the target, the public sector is considered to encompass
the Civil Service, commercial and non-commercial State Bodies, State-owned
financial institutions, the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, Health Service
Executive hospitals and other facilities, Local and Regional Authorities, schools
and universities. S.I. 542 clause 10 defines the Public Sector.
2 Primary energy equivalent
16
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
Policy and Legislative Summary
The policy framework for energy efficiency is characterised
by two drivers – national initiatives and EU legislation. At a
national level the Energy Policy Framework sets the national
targets and represents the starting point for all energy saving
National Energy
Efficiency Action Plan
(NEEAP)
action, including the drafting of the National Energy Efficiency
Action Plan. At an EU level key initiatives include the Energy
Services Directive, its successor the Energy Efficiency Directive
and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directives.
The various policy initiatives are listed below.
• 33% energy efficiency improvement by 2020
• 3,240 GWh savings by 2020
• ‘Lead by example’
S.I. 542 of 2009 (Energy
End-Use Efficiency
and Energy Services)
• 1,500 GWh savings by 2016
• Exemplar role (energy management practices, procurement practices,
auditing and use of energy efficient buildings)
• Must only buy/lease buildings rated at B3 (from 2012) and A3 (from 2015)
• Annual Reporting
S.I. 151 of 2011
(Energy Efficient
Public Procurement)
• Must only purchase equipment and vehicles from the Triple E register
(or equivalent)
S.I. 666 of 2006
(Energy Performance
of Buildings)
Green Tenders (Green
Public Procurement)
• Display Energy Certificates required in existing public buildings
>1,000m2
• Building Energy Ratings (BERs) required for all new, rented or sold
buildings
• Better procurement of energy supplies, energy efficiency and
renewable energy services, energy using products and energy using
capital projects
* Status as of July 2012. For up to date requirements see http://www.seai.ie/Your_Business/Public_Sector/Public_Sector_Programme/Obligations_and_Targets/
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
17
3 PUBLIC SECTOR PROGRAMME
SEAI’s Public Sector Programme is designed to support
public bodies in their efforts to meet the 33% energy
saving target by integrating energy management into
the general management of organisations.
Experience, actions and innovations by Public Sector organisations are shared
via the programme to help avoid duplication and reinvention, while providing
a short cut to success.
The programme comprises four main elements:
The flagship element of the programme is the Partnership
Agreement, which helps public bodies to save money, improve the
environment and meet national obligations by making significant
reductions in their energy usage. The initiative engages at the top
level within organisations and provides tailored support delivered in
partnership with those organisations who demonstrate commitment
to strategic energy management.
Partnership
agreements
For more information, see www.seai.ie/publicsector
1
In November 2010, a group of fourteen leading public bodies committed
to SEAI’s Energy Partnership initiative to deliver total cumulative energy
savings of €330 million by 2020. The initial group of leading organisations,
which have a combined annual energy spend in excess of €200 million,
will be joined by other public bodies across the sector, committing to
similar energy savings.
4
Monitoring
and Reporting
SEAI and the Department of Communications Energy and Natural
Resources (DCENR) are developing a pioneering energy monitoring
and reporting system for the entire sector.
In 2011 SEAI collated electricity and natural gas energy consumption data
for the years 2006-2010 for approximately thirty thousand public sector
electricity and natural gas connections.
For additional information on the progress to date, see Section 4.
18
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
The Best Practice strand encompasses a range of
services to facilitate and enable the exchange of
energy efficiency best practice between public
bodies at local, national and international level. SEAI’s
services range from facility and project-level energy
assessments, through specialist training in exemplar
energy management to expert working groups and
networking.
For additional information about our best practice
services, see www.seai.ie/publicsector
On average, each engagement through the successful
Advice Mentoring and Assessments service identifies 22
opportunities for energy savings. This service is delivered
by expert energy advisors that help and motivate
organisations to assess their own energy use, to identify
opportunities for savings and to take action to realise
savings. Participating facilities typically save 8% within
one year of the initial assessment.
SEAI has established four energy efficiency working groups
in the fields of Water Services, Public Lighting, Information
Communications Technology and Financing Retrofit in the
Public Sector. Each working group comprises participants
from the public and private sectors. The goal of each group
is to help set public bodies on a pathway to designing,
procuring, operating and maintaining relevant energy
users in an efficient and effective manner.
Since 2009, SEAI has provided bespoke, one-to-one
advice to public bodies on integrating the principles
of energy efficient design (EED) into energy intensive
capital projects. EED is a methodology that facilitates the
design, construction and management of projects so that
they consume the minimum quantity of energy during
subsequent operation. For example, an EED undertaken
late in the detailed design phase of the upgrade of a
wastewater treatment plant at Osberstown, County
Kildare identified a package of annual energy savings in
the order of €177,000, with an estimated investment cost
of €193,000. Over 20 years, the package will deliver an
estimated €3.5 million worth of savings.
best
practice
2
3
funding,
financing and
procurement
Through its Funding, Financing and Procurement
strand, SEAI supports public bodies to explore
innovative ways to fund, finance and resource energy
technology projects, and provides advice on better
procurement.
For more information, see www.seai.ie/publicsector
Stewarts Hospital in Dublin saved in excess of €230,000 in
the first operational year of an innovative energy efficiency
upgrade project. The project, which secured 2009 grant
funding from SEAI, included lighting and heating retrofits
and a new energy centre incorporating a CHP system.
The hospital signed a 15-year energy performance contract
involving significant investment by an energy service
company. Further consumption and cost savings are
anticipated in the second year.
As part of the Government’s energy cost reduction services
for the public sector, €5.9 million of financial support was
made available in 2009 through the Supports for Exemplar
Energy Efficiency Programme for the implementation of
50 exemplar energy efficiency projects in the public sector.
An additional €5.3 million of grant support was provided
to 30 public sector projects through the national Energy
Efficiency Fund in 2010. Additional support in 2011 and
2012 is provided through the Better Energy Workplaces
scheme www.seai.ie/betterenergyworkplaces.
The average payback period for SEAI grant supported
energy efficiency projects in the public sector is between
2.6 years (2010) and 4.6 years (2009).
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
19
3 PUBLIC SECTOR PROGRAMME continued
The Public Sector Programme has achieved significant
successes by providing a firm foundation to achieve the 33%
savings target by 2020. The Authority is working closely with
public sector organisations throughout the country to help
them reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions – see
Section 1 for success stories from some exemplar public
bodies. This work is complemented by the pioneering energy
monitoring and reporting system that is being developed by
SEAI and the Department of Communications Energy & Natural
Resources (DCENR) for the entire sector.
SErvice available
how do i get involved?
First rule of Energy Efficiency – the greater the
commitment, the greater the savings.
A range of supports are available, designed to suit the size and
needs of your organisation. The diagram below details how
you can get started on your energy saving journey, or simply
contact us.
[email protected] or 01 808 2087
For those who have already started, skip ahead and join the
Partnership Agreement.
Dip your toe in the water
- Get assessed
Begin to get organised Get trained
Secure and sustain
commitment Get strategic
• A half-day assessment
(+ 90 days support)
• 3 days training (over
4-6 months)
• Dedicated energy
mentor
• Best Practice guidance
• Site assessment
(+ support)
• Tailored energy
management
• Best Practice guidance
• Strategic supports
• Facility/Project
assessments service
• Tailored training
• Best practice guidance
how to sign up
your commitment
Register
Commit
Partnership agreement
Basic Energy
Management
Programme
Full Energy
Management
Programme
Exemplar Energy
Management
Programme
Management sponsor
Aim for 3% improvement
per annum
Address the opportunities
Cross-functional team
Annual action plan
contact us
See if you qualify for an
assessment
Team up for more
support
Are you ready for
corporate commitment?
www.seai.ie/Your_
Business/Energy_Advice_
Mentoring
www.seai.ie/EnergyMAP
www.seai.ie/Your_
Business/Public_Sector/
Partnerships
Resources and tools for all business use. See www.seai.ie/business
20
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
4 MONITORING AND REPORTING OF
ENERGY PERFORMANCE IN THE
PUBLIC SECTOR
Background
Up until now, the best available data for energy consumption
in the public sector has been derived from services sector
data as set out in the annual National Energy Balance3.
However, public sector consumption is calculated as a
residual, following determination of the final energy use in
the industrial, residential and transport sectors. The services
sector consumption is then split between public sector
and commercial services based on an estimated ratio. As a
result, the scale of the challenge in better quantifying energy
consumption and energy savings in the sector is significant.
For example, there are approximately 4,500 separate public
bodies, of which about 4,000 are schools. Altogether, they
consume electricity through many tens of thousands of
metered connections as well as through over 400,000
un-metered public lighting connections.
Since January 2011, all public bodies have two key obligations
to report annually on their energy usage:
• Requirement to report the organisation’s energy
performance directly to SEAI each year;
• Requirement to report on energy performance in the
organisation’s own annual report.
The progress to date is set out in the following sub-sections:
• Monitoring and reporting energy performance in the
public sector. This is a pioneering project to monitor energy
performance throughout the sector at organisation level and
to track progress towards the 2020 targets. This sub-section
includes:
- Project overview and description of the methodologies
incorporated into the nascent monitoring and reporting
system (Sections 4.1–4.2);
- Preliminary data (up to 2010) from an exchange of MPRNs
and GPRNs with the meter operators (Sections 4.3–4.4);
- Next steps on the pathway to reducing data gaps and
developing a more coherent picture of public sector
energy usage (Section 4.5).
• Overall progress in making savings the public sector
(Section 5);
• Success stories – amid all of the high level savings figures it
can be easy to forget that saving energy requires significant
human and organisational commitment. We highlight some
success stories (Section 1).
Although the data presented here relates to 2010 and contains
several data gaps, it represents an important milestone
in developing a better insight into public sector energy
consumption. Both the quality and quantity of the data
gathered will be updated significantly over the next few
years. SEAI will publish a further update on progress in
early 2013.
4.1 Public Sector Energy Monitoring and
Reporting System
SEAI and DCENR are developing an energy monitoring and
reporting system to satisfy the reporting requirements of both
S.I. 542 of 2009 and the NEEAP. As well as enabling public
bodies to report and track their energy data annually, the
system will provide senior management with a scorecard that
will present a powerful snapshot of both the organisation’s
progress to date and its performance compared to its peers.
The system will give every public body online access to its
annual electricity and natural gas consumption data and
will (optionally) allow them to share relevant data with
other national reporting systems, such as the EPA’s Carbon
Management Tool and the National Procurement Service
(NPS) energy procurement framework. The latter will assist
the NPS’ efforts to procure cheaper energy supplies for the
public sector.
The system will include a National Public Sector Energy
Database which will: inform the development of national
policy and programmes; facilitate the generation of national
statistics and the fulfilment of Ireland’s international reporting
obligations; facilitate the development of the energy services
market; and assist the NPS procure energy supplies more
efficiently.
3 Available at www.seai.ie/Publications/Statistics_Publications/Energy_Balance/.
Note that the National Energy Balance presents consumption as Total Final
Consumption (TFC) and not as Total Primary Energy Requirement (TPER).
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
21
4 MONITORING AND REPORTING OF ENERGY PERFORMANCE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR continued
The system is being implemented in phases. The first phase
(2011) involved the development of a methodology for
monitoring and reporting energy efficiency in the public
sector and the trialling of the proposed methodology through
a pilot reporting exercise with a small cohort of exemplar
public bodies. This phase also involved the collation of
network-connected energy consumption data (electricity
and natural gas) for about 300 of the largest public bodies.
Phase two (2012) involves the development of a webbased IT reporting system incorporating the methodologies
developed and refined in phase 1. The biggest 100 energy
consumers in the sector will be obliged to report on their
energy performance in 2012, providing data for the years up
to 2011. All other public bodies will be required to submit
their electricity and natural gas meter numbers to SEAI. From
2013 onwards, all public bodies will be in an annual cycle of
reporting through a web-based IT system (phase 3).
Progress to date
In July 2011, SEAI appointed Byrne Ó Cléirigh Consulting in
association with TEKenable to develop a robust, workable
methodology for monitoring and reporting energy savings
to 2020. After reviewing international best practices, a draft
methodology and system design were developed. While there
is considerable activity throughout the developed world in
the general field of monitoring and understanding energy
consumption, this project to track energy performance at
2011
• Methodology development
for monitoring and reporting
system
• Pilot methodologies with
exemplar public bodies
• Data exchange with Electricity
and Natural Gas operators
(~30,000 MPRNs and GPRNs)
an organisation level throughout the entire public sector is
internationally pioneering.
The methodology was then piloted by eighteen exemplar
public bodies who reported their energy data to SEAI and
engaged with the consultants to provide valuable feedback
on the nascent system. The methodology was subsequently
refined – incorporating the lessons and feedback from the
pilot - in advance of the development of the full web-based
monitoring and reporting system later in 2012.
Over fifty public bodies also participated in a consultation
exercise in late 2011 and early 2012. They were briefed on the
approaches being developed and they fed useful suggestions
and comments into the development process.
Electricity and natural gas consumption data
DCENR requested all public bodies to submit their electricity
and gas meter point numbers (MPRNs and GPRNs4) to
SEAI. The NPS also provided MPRN and GPRN datasets. The
collation of these numbers enabled DCENR and SEAI to build
a comprehensive picture of public sector electricity and gas
usage – by accessing the consumption data corresponding to
the numbers on an annual basis directly from the regulated
electricity and gas meter operators (ESB MRSO and Bord Gáis
Networks). This greatly reduces the reporting burden on
public bodies by eliminating the need for them to submit their
electricity and natural gas consumption data each year.
2012
2013
• Publish results of 2011 data
exchange
• Procure web-based reporting
system
• Reporting of all network and
non-network energy (‘top 100’
public bodies)
• Publish data reported in 2012
• Reporting of all network and
non-network energy (‘top 100’
public bodies) via web-based
reporting system
• Update MPRN and GPRN
database (all public bodies)
4 An MPRN is a Meter Point Reference Number which is a unique 11-digit
number assigned to every single electricity connection and meter in the
country. A GPRN is a Gas Point Registration Number which is a unique
reference number assigned to every gas point on the natural gas network.
22
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
Baselines and targets
To date, almost 28,300 unique MPRNs and nearly 2,400
unique GPRNs have been collated into a single National
Public Sector Energy Database. They were submitted to
the regulated meter operators, who returned historical
consumption data associated with each (see in Section 4.3).
The progress made by an organisation in meeting its 2020
target is measured against an historical baseline. Public bodies
can choose whichever of the following baseline periods
suits them best: 2001-2005 (average); 2006-2008 (average);
2009 (single year). 2009 is the default baseline.
4.2 APPROACH TO TRACKING PROGRESS TOWARDS 33%
The target for all public bodies is a 33% energy efficiency
improvement by 2020, i.e. the organisation’s energy
performance indicator must improve by at least 33%
between its baseline and 2020.
Measuring energy savings
It is difficult to directly ‘measure’ energy savings. Therefore,
determining energy savings always involves analysing changes
in other parameters that are directly related to the energy
use. The methodology used for tracking energy savings in
the monitoring and reporting system calculates savings
using energy performance indicators (EnPIs). This enables
organisations to determine how efficiently they are using
energy because it accounts for changes in an activity metric
related to the energy use.
Energy performance scorecard
Very often, key decision makers have either too little or too
much information to make good energy management
decisions. A scorecard is a powerful tool for distilling large
quantities of data into a small number of relevant metrics and
framing these indicators against targets. The monitoring and
reporting system generates an energy performance scorecard
for each organisation to provide a visually appealing snapshot
of its energy performance. It communicates important energy
metrics, including progress against the 33% target, as well as
the organisation’s performance relative to other public bodies
(see below).
The activity metric is a measure of the activity that the public
body undertakes. Ideally, the activity metric should quantify
the key activities that affect energy use, e.g. for organisations
in which most of the energy consumption is in buildings, good
activity metrics are the total useful floor area that is heated or
air conditioned or the number of people that benefit from the
energy service provided.
Extract from sample scorecard (pilot reporting exercise)
PROGRESS TO 2020
Progress:
Energy consumption since baseline : -10%
Secondary indicator, i.e. % change in TPER
15%
0%
Baseline
3%
6%
ENERGY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Energy Performance Indicator (2010)
2010 EnPl = 9,148
kWh
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Employees
21% from 2020 target
1% above (worse than) target glidepath
kWh
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Employees
1% worse than 2009
15% better than baseline
Target EnPI = 7,216
Level 2 Energy Performance Indicators (2010)
Electricity: 4,286 kWh / Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Employees
Thermal : 191 kWh / Total Useful Floor Area (m2)
Transport: 1 kWh / Road km travelled
11% better than 2009
12% worse than 2009
8% better than 2009
9%
12%
12,000
10,000
8,000
15%
18%
21%
24%
27%
30%
33%
Target
Energy Performance Indicator (2010)
Actual
Target Glidepath
Worse
Performance
6,000
4,000
2,000
Better
Performance
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Primary indicator, i.e. % improvement in EnPl
kWh / Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Employees
Energy savings since baseline : 15%
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
23
4 MONITORING AND REPORTING OF ENERGY PERFORMANCE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR continued
Linkages to other systems
Reporting under the target links to, and insofar as is possible,
will integrate with, other existing reporting mechanisms.
SEAI, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
National Procurement Service (NPS) are committed to
minimising the reporting and data manipulation burden
on public bodies:
• The EPA manages the Change.ie Carbon Management
Tool – users of the SEAI system will have the option to
automatically share their submitted energy data with the
Carbon Management Tool.
• The NPS provides a central procurement service for public
bodies - users of the SEAI system will have the option to
share their MPRNs and GPRNs with the NPS when they wish
to procure electricity and natural gas. SEAI is developing the
National Public Sector Energy Database in close cooperation
with the NPS to greatly reduce the administrative burden in
reporting and gathering data for procurement purposes.
SEAI also intends that the monitoring and reporting system
will integrate with the system for generating Display Energy
Certificates. This linkage will be developed through a separate
project phase.
Publication of data
Each year, SEAI will publish a report on energy performance
in the public sector, which will highlight progress across the
sector as a whole and showcase individual achievements.
It will also illustrate each individual public body’s energy
performance since its preferred baseline period and compared
to its 2020 target – in terms of a percentage change in each
public body’s energy performance indicator. Public bodies that
fail to report their data in accordance with their obligations will
be listed accordingly in this publication.
4.3 RESULTS OF 2010 DATA EXCHANGE
National Public Sector Energy Database
The 2010 energy consumption for the public sector reported
in the National Energy Balance is 11,919 GWh total primary
energy requirement (TPER). Over time, the monitoring and
reporting system will build a more comprehensive bottomup picture of energy consumption in the sector through the
population of the National Public Sector Energy Database.
In 2011, the regulated meter operators for the electricity and
natural gas networks provided energy consumption data
to SEAI for approximately thirty thousand meter numbers
in the National Public Sector Energy Database. Eighteen
public bodies also self-reported their non-network energy
consumption data (i.e. for their consumption of energy other
than electricity and natural gas) as part of the pilot exercise.
Data gaps
The monitoring and reporting system will generate better
quality energy consumption data for the sector. However,
building a complete consumption profile for the sector is an
iterative process that will take several years as public bodies
submit improved data each year. In the interim, the data
presented in this report is incomplete. For example, not all
public bodies submitted meter numbers in response to the
initial DCENR request, and of those that did, not all submitted
complete datasets. The database only contains MPRNs for
260 non-school public bodies (out of about 500). Most of
the public bodies for which the database does not contain
any data points are relatively smaller consumers (including
schools). Furthermore, the database only contains non (oil,
transport fuels, etc.) network-connected energy consumption
data for the eighteen public bodies that participated in the
pilot; this is a significant data gap that will be addressed over
the coming years.
Electricity consumption
The aggregate energy consumption through the 28,547
unique MPRNs in the National Public Sector Energy Database
amounted to approximately 4,400 GWh in 2010 (TPER).
• Facility level consumption
Each of the 28,547 unique MPRNs in the national database
corresponds to a specific electricity connection used by
a public body. A single connection could serve anything
from a small office building (or part of a building) to a large
24
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
• Electricity end use
wastewater treatment plant or hospital or even multiple
buildings on campus. As a result, the consumption through
each MPRN can vary significantly from MPRN to MPRN
(see graph below). For example, for the incomplete dataset
currently collated in the database (see Data Gaps, page 24):
• In 2010, the reported electricity consumption ranged from
less than 250 kWh in approximately 1,300 MPRNs to over
10 GWh (10,000,000 kWh) in 73 MPRNs (TPER);
• The 1% of MPRNs that consumed the most electricity in
2010 (the ‘biggest’ 283 MPRNs) accounted for 51% of the
reported electricity consumption;
Thermal and transport fuel consumption
• The ‘biggest’ 10% of MPRNs consumed 85% of the
reported electricity consumption.
• Organisation level consumption
Unsurprisingly, there is a significant disparity in the magnitude
of electricity consumption between different public bodies
within the sector. For the incomplete dataset currently collated
in the database (see Data Gaps, page 24), the larger consumers
consume a very large proportion of electricity:
• The ten largest consuming public bodies consume 48%
of reported consumption;
The bottom-up quantification of thermal and transport
fuel consumption is less complete than that for electricity
consumption because the initial phase of the project has
focussed on the collation of network-connected energy data
(i.e. electricity and natural gas), whereas a comprehensive
bottom-up quantification and analysis of non networkconnected fuel consumption (e.g. LPG, kerosene, gasoil, diesel,
wood chips, etc.) will not be undertaken until the second
project phase (2012).
The aggregate energy consumption through the 2,400 natural
gas GPRNs in the National Public Sector Energy Database
amounted to about 1,500 GWh in 2010 (TPER). While a
significant portion of this consumption remains unclassified
by end-use, it is known that nearly all public sector natural gas
consumption is in buildings.
• The fifty largest consuming public bodies consume 84%
of reported consumption;
• 95% of the reported consumption is consumed by the
ninety-one largest consuming public bodies.
100%
%Total MPRN Electricity Consumption
(Cumulative)
% of cumulative energy
consumption (2010) v % of Public
Sector MPRNs in National Public
Sector Energy Database 2010
Most of the MPRNs in the database are categorised by one of
twelve end use categories. In 2010, over half of the reported
electricity consumption was consumed in buildings
(through approximately 7,000 building MPRNs), 18% in
water services (through approximately 1,100 water pumping
and wastewater treatment MPRNs) and 9% for public
lighting (approximately 600 MPRNs). 11% of consumption
remains unclassified; however, this will reduce over the coming
years as more public bodies classify their MPRNs.
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
%Total Number of Public Body MPRNs
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
25
4 MONITORING AND REPORTING OF ENERGY PERFORMANCE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR continued
The absence of much of the non network-connected fuel data
prohibits more detailed organisation-level analyses of thermal
and transport fuel consumption in the sector at this time.
As the project develops more data on thermal and transport
fuel consumption will be added to the database, which will
allow for a more complete picture of public sector energy
consumption to emerge.
Energy consumption
4.4Monitoring and reporting system pilot
4.5 Next steps in the monitoring and
reporting process
Eighteen exemplar public bodies submitted more detailed
data as part of the monitoring and reporting system pilot:
The next steps in the monitoring and reporting project are:
• An Garda Síochána
• SEAI procures a new web-based IT solution for the
monitoring and reporting system in 2012;
• Cork County Council
• Courts Service
• Dublin City University
• Dublin Institute of Technology
• Dublin Bus
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
• HSE Dublin NE
• Irish Prisons Service
• Kerry Local Authorities
• Letterkenny Institute of Technology
• Laois County Council
• Louth Local Authorities
• North Tipperary County Council
• Raidió Teilifís Éireann
• Trinity College Dublin
• University College Cork
• University College Dublin
These exemplar organisations reported energy consumption
data – including for non-network connected energy supplies
(e.g. oil, diesel, etc.) – and activity metric data from baseline
periods onwards. SEAI is particularly grateful to these leaders
in the sector for the time and effort they committed
to participating in the pilot.
26
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
Altogether, the pilot organisations consumed approximately
2,200 GWh of energy in 2010 – or about 18% of the ‘public
services’ energy consumption reported in the National Energy
Balance. The split between these organisations’ electricity,
thermal and transport consumption was 52%:26%:22%.
• The 100 largest energy consuming public bodies report
their MPRNs, GPRNs, non network-connected energy
consumption data and activity metric data to SEAI using
a bespoke reporting tool;
• All other public bodies report any changes to their MPRNs
or GPRNs since they last submitted MPRNs and GPRNs to
SEAI;
• SEAI undertakes a data exchange with the meter operators
with all of the collated public sector MPRNs
and GPRNs in Q4 2012;
• SEAI prepares its first annual report on public sector energy
performance (Q1 2013).
From 2013 onwards, all public bodies will be in an annual cycle
of reporting through the new IT system.
Additional information, including comprehensive guidance
materials and details of training workshops, is available from
www.seai.ie/Your_Business/Public_Sector/Reporting/.
5 energy savings in the public
sector
5.1OVERALL PUBLIC SECTOR SAVINGS
The data collection systems that have been put in place since
the transposition of the Energy Services Directive and the
publication of the first National Energy Efficiency Action Plan
in 2009 reveal that considerable progress has already been
made towards the 2020 targets. This progress is summarised in
the Second National Energy Efficiency Action Plan. Altogether
these actions have achieved estimated savings of 650 GWh.
Energy Savings Achieved in the Public Sector by 20105
ProgrammeEnergy Saving at end 2010 (GWh)
Public Sector Programme
75
Green Public Procurement (via ACA)
25
SEEEP and EEF (public sector)
90
Public Sector Building Demonstration Programme
140
CHP (public sector)
120
ReHeat (public sector)
110
Public transport efficiency
90
Total650
Financial support was made available through the Supports for
Exemplar Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEEP, 2009) and the
Energy Efficiency Fund (EEF, 2010). Altogether, over 80 projects
were supported over the two years that will deliver annual
energy savings of 90GWh.
In 2011, the Government launched the Better Energy
Workplaces Fund to deliver a major increase in the pace, scale
and depth of sustainable energy investments in upgrading
existing buildings and facilities. Details of the 2011 impacts
and supported projects can be viewed in the Better Energy
Workplaces 2011 Impact Report available at www.seai.ie/
betterenergyworkplaces.
SEAI’s initiatives over recent years have been complemented by
the excellent programmes of other public bodies. For example:
• Between January 2008 and May 2010, the OPW undertook
a state-wide energy conservation campaign entitled
Optimising Power @ Work (Phase 1) at approximately
250 large buildings, which delivered average savings of
approximately 12% in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Phase
2 of the initiative subsequently commenced in June 2010.
• The Department of Education & Skills is at the forefront
of design with respect to sustainable energy efficiency in
school buildings. The Department’s Technical Guidance
Document (TGD) sets the benchmark for sustainable design
in school buildings with a clear focus on energy efficiency.
All primary schools built in accordance with the TGD are
capable of achieving an A3 Building Energy Rating (BER)
and all post-primary schools (second-level) are capable of
achieving a B1 BER.
The significant progress made by specific exemplar public
bodies is described in the success stories in Section 1.
5 This table includes some savings that were made prior to the transposition
of the Energy Services Directive in 2009 that can be counted towards the
efficiency targets.
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
27
5 energy savings in the public sector continued
5.2 Savings reported by the pilot
participants in the monitoring and
reporting system
Among the key reporting indicators calculated by the
monitoring and reporting system are three important metrics
namely: efficiency changes at organisation level; the aggregate
energy saved by all of the organisations compared to ‘businessas-usual’; and the aggregate savings attributable to specific
energy efficiency initiatives implemented by organisations.
Organisation-level energy efficiency
Eleven of the eighteen participants in the monitoring and
reporting system pilot exercise reported improvements in
their performance since their baselines. The average change
reported was a 5% improvement. Five reported double digit
improvements, with four of these demonstrating performance
better than their target glidepaths6.
The best performing pilot participant reported a 26% efficiency
improvement. Six organisations reported deteriorations
since the baseline. Twelve of the public bodies experienced
deteriorations between the years 2009 and 2010.
Aggregate savings compared to business-as-usual
Altogether, seventeen of the participants reported savings
of 65.4 GWh since the baseline, which is equivalent to a
3% improvement7.
Energy saving initiatives
Fifteen of the pilot participants reported on specific energy
saving initiatives that they had implemented since their
baseline periods; eleven participants also reported on
initiatives that they propose to implement over the coming
years. Unfortunately, savings data was only reported for a
portion of these initiatives. The quantified savings reported
for the initiatives already implemented amount to 63 GWh,
or 3% of the total baseline energy consumption, while the
expected savings from proposed projects (17 GWh) amounts
to a further 1% saving on the baseline consumption.
Ten of the participants reported that they verified savings
achieved to date – for a total of eighty-seven projects that
generated 54 GWh of savings (TPER). 40% of these savings
6 An organisation’s glidepath is an interpolation from its baseline EnPI to the
2020 target EnPI. It represents a constant improvement in performance
between the baseline and 2020 and can be used by public bodies to
determine how they are doing each year compared to the target.
28
energy use in the PUBLIC Sector
were from energy saving initiatives on HVAC systems,
with a further 20% from projects on transport systems
and 16% from lighting projects.
5.3 Public Sector Programme – the
catalyst for additional savings to 2020
The majority of the balance of the savings required to meet
the public sector target by 2020 will be achieved by the Public
Sector Programme supporting strategic energy management
in the sector. The focus of the programme is to underpin
organisations’ own efforts in reaching the target by embedding
an energy management culture in the public sector.
The initial years of the programme have witnessed
encouraging progress among many organisations that
have committed to better energy management through
engagement with SEAI. For example, from 2009-2010,
the 400+ public sector facilities that have availed of the Advice
Mentoring and Assessments service have achieved 75 GWh in
annual savings. This figure does not include other savings that
have been achieved through other Public Sector Programme
services delivered since 2009, for example:
• The SEAI-supported Energy Efficient Design reviews that
have been undertaken for eight large capital projects in
the health, public transport, education and water services
sectors.
• The Energy MAP training course, which has been successfully
delivered to many public bodies, including over twenty
local authorities. This innovative course focuses on how to
develop an effective energy management programme and
is based on the proven Energy MAP approach.
• The four SEAI-facilitated working groups on water services,
public lighting, ICT and financing energy retrofits, the first
of which identified opportunities for energy savings of up
to 30%-50% at certain types of facilities – in a sector that
accounts for over 350 GWh of electricity consumption
per annum.
The savings attributable to these other programme
elements have not yet been fully quantified. However,
the implementation of the next two phases of the monitoring
and reporting system will enable SEAI to better quantify
savings in the sector from these initiatives.
7Calculated by subtracting the organisations’ combined actual 2010 energy
consumption (in TPER) from the business as usual energy consumption that
they would have consumed had they maintained their baseline EnPIs.
“First rule of Energy Efficiency –
the greater the commitment,
the greater the savings.”
Contact Details:
Alan Ryan
Public Sector Supports
T. +353 1 808 2027
E. [email protected]
Orla Thornton
Public Sector Supports Assistant
T. +353 1 808 2087
E. [email protected]
or [email protected]
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
Wilton Park House, Wilton Place
Dublin 2, Ireland
T. +353 1 8082100
F. +353 1 8082002
[email protected]
www.seai.ie
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
is partly financed by Ireland’s EU Structural Funds
Programme co-funded by the Irish Government
and the European Union.