The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) has improved the energy efficiency of its building which has been recognised with a new Display Energy Certificate (DEC) rating of C and at the same time reduced its business energy costs.
A building’s energy efficiency is measured using a DEC rating system which goes from A to G. A is the most efficient while G is least efficient.
The DECC moved into its new headquarters in the autumn of 2008 when it had a G rating. The DECC has worked on improving energy efficiency in the Whitehall Place building and the new rating shows how much it has improved over almost four years.
The Minister of State for Climate Change, Greg Barker, said “The new higher DEC rating of “C” represents a great achievement for the Department over the last four years. Only 23% of commercial buildings are rated C or above. Since 2008, the Department has cut its HQ building’s energy consumption by 60% and slashed carbon emissions by half. This is even more impressive when you consider that staff numbers in the building have risen since DECC took it on”.
He added “With the right commitment, large organisations can make a big difference to their overheads and to their environmental impact, and DECC’s achievement is proof of that”.
The DECC estimates to have saved around £156,000 between 2011/2012 on energy bills and predicts further savings for the year 2012/2013.
So how has the DECC managed to reduce its business energy bills? The Department has implemented a number of energy efficiency measures including occupancy controls on lighting, it’s installed intelligent boiler load optimisation control units to two gas fired boilers and installed variable speed drives to supply fans.
The Hub has provided a number of energy saving tips for businesses over the last few months and lighting controls feature frequently as a way of reducing business energy costs. Take a look at other ways to save energy at work and let us know if you have any of your own suggestions.
The DECC hopes to make further energy efficiency savings in the future but admits it will be much more difficult because all the easy and quick ways of saving energy have already been implemented.
