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EDF Energy B2B has teamed up with t-mac Technologies Ltd to help save energy and promote sustainability at Southwold School, East London.
EDF Energy, the UK’s largest producer of low-carbon electricity, has installed a t-mac energy control system. Through a graphical dashboard interface, this system provides a fully interactive online tool that enables the school to manage, review and amend its energy consumption. The aim is to help the school develop energy reduction strategies as well as highlight the need to save energy to the children.
Since its installation in September 2009, the t-mac system has been responsible for managing and controlling energy intensive systems within the school including the lighting, mains electricity, mains gas and the boiler. Indicators such as room temperature, the flow and return of boiler temperatures and lux levels are all monitored by the t-mac device and controlled by the t-mac software which ensures meter readings do not exceed specified levels.
One way that t-mac has helped Southwold School is by monitoring and controlling the boiler which previously wasted energy and money by running 24 hours a day on a frequently overridden timer. t-mac ensures that such utilities are not kept running due to forgetfulness or human error, which most frequently occurs during bad weather.
Another key improvement was the implementation of frost protection to the boiler system, where the t-mac device reacts by reviving assets before they reach critical temperatures. Frost protecting the boiler ensures that the utility does not freeze during cold nights by monitoring temperature and turning the boiler system back on, even if it had already been switched off by a timer.
Following EDF Energy’s audit of Southwold School’s energy consumption, and subsequent recommended technology and training, the school reduced its energy bills by 35 per cent in ten months. Savings have already funded two extra full-time teachers.
The bespoke Southwold Primary School dashboards are visible on computers for children to interact with which helps engage pupils and increases their awareness of the importance of reducing energy wastage.
Lisa Wilkinson, director, t-mac Technologies, said: “The bespoke dashboards were designed with a school audience in mind and offer full monitoring and control of school energy.
“There are many tangible and educational benefits for schools keen to follow a more energy efficient lifestyle. By installing dashboards schools can save energy and carbon emissions, reduce overhead expenditure, and reap significant educational benefits by showing pupils how they can impact on the energy management of their own school.”
Benefits of the Southwold Primary School dashboard are listed below:
• Enables the school to highlight its commitment towards carbon reduction by being able to display previous and current energy metering data for educating stakeholders and helping to meet legislation.
• Identifies energy waste, such as air conditioning, heating, lights or monitors left on etc.
• Identifies improvement and areas of inefficiency.
• Assesses opportunities for investments of new technologies, renewables or new control strategies.
• Educates pupils and teachers through software dashboards.
• Provides a green educational platform for teachers when explaining the need for carbon reduction.
• Offers multi-utility controls.
Julie Allen, Energy Efficiency Manager from EDF Energy, said: “The transformation that EDF Energy has achieved with Southwold School is something we are very proud of. It illustrates what can be achieved when an organisation is armed with good visibility of their energy consumption. The technology combined with behavioural changes of staff and pupils has resulted in significant savings for Southwold and a valuable educational experience for everyone involved.”
About t-mac
The t-mac system operates by gathering energy consumption information from utilities or sources of power such as lighting and air conditioning units. By monitoring and controlling the energy consumption and emissions from these devices businesses can develop a solution for minimising waste and reducing financial outgoings.
Businesses can set criteria on the energy conditions of the chosen equipment via t-mac, for example optimum heating levels and lighting on/off times, to ensure that potential energy sapping devices stay within preset 'carbon friendly' ranges. t-mac can also alert businesses via text message or email when equipment operates outwith preset ranges.
t-mac works via the internet meaning it is fully interactive from any location 24 hours a day, seven days a week, users can log on to the t-mac webpage and turn temperatures gauges up/down, or turn on/off the lights instantly without having to go on site.
t-mac can highlight which equipment is using more energy and why and creates a plan to reduce energy consumption, improve equipment performance and gain best practice techniques.
Fast facts about t-mac:
• The average return on investment from t-mac is 12-18 months.
• Boiler control with t-mac can reduce heating bills by 30 per cent.
• Air conditioning control with t-mac can reduce consumption by 40 per cent.
• The t-mac system has secured a place on the Carbon Trust’s Energy Technology List allowing companies to apply for 100% capital allowance on their first year of investment in energy monitoring equipment.
About EDF Energy
The combination of EDF Energy and British Energy forms one of the UK’s largest energy companies. The new EDF Energy is the UK’s largest producer of electricity and the largest generator of low carbon electricity in Britain. Through Our Climate and Social Commitments we have launched the biggest environmental and social packages of any UK energy company.
We produce around one-fifth of the nation's electricity from our nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. We provide power to a quarter of the UK’s population via our electricity distribution networks and supply gas and electricity to over 5.5 million business and residential customers.
The company is a key player in national infrastructure projects including management of private electricity networks serving four London airports and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the country’s first major new railway in 100 years and has published plans to build up to four new nuclear power stations in the UK.
EDF Energy and British Energy together employ nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK. EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies.
For further information contact:
Lisa Wilkinson
t-mac Technologies
T: 01246 233632 F: 01246 201193
E: lisa@t-mac.co.uk W: www.t-mac.co.uk
Michael Chan
EDF Energy
T:020 7632 0722 F:020 7632 0793
E: michael.chan@edfenergy.com W: www.edfenergy.com
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