Better power management would save British business many millions – and cut greenhouse emissions significantly

British businesses are losing £850 million a year through poor power management. Or, to put it in a more positive light, the British economy could benefit by £2.3 million and cut more than 1% of its greenhouse emissions a day by the application of improved power solutions.

These astounding figures, from a study conducted by consultancy PPE, are calculated using the power factor – the amount of energy taken in by a business compared with the amount it should theoretically require to run its equipment.

On a more local scale, the power factor can be used to calculate the power efficiency of individual firms. The work evaluates the efficiency of a power supply and points to areas in which improvements can be made.

“We know the impact that improved power systems have for our clients,” says Shaun Nugent, chief executive of PPE.

“Government and the public sector have been making use of our services for a long time. But we were surprised when we looked at the UK statistics. Even we didn’t expect to see losses on this scale in British industry, as well as such a massive contribution to the UK’s carbon footprint.”

The energy wastage often occurs because of the way businesses treat their electricity supply internally. Generally, the older the company is, the less effective is its power management.

“Many businesses have been putting up with limited supplies and brown-outs, or even power cuts, for many years as a result of the loss of capacity in the supply from poor efficiency,” says Nugent.

Recent legislation has also allowed electricity companies to penalise businesses who use power inefficiently. This means firms now have multiple incentives increased capacity, the removal of penalty charges, plus lower electricity bills – if they put in place measures to improve energy efficiency.

“Power factor management won’t create a perfect power supply, but it will decrease the amount of power lost to a business, usually by around 5%,” says Nugent. “We can halve what British businesses are losing to power factor costs, and, as a result, carbon emissions will also be cut.”

For more information go to www.ppe-world.co.uk

The small print


New construction orders for the last 12 months look good at first glance. Public housing and housing association orders rose by 15% in the year to August 2007. Public non-housing orders were up 8%; infrastructure orders 3%; and private commercial orders 1%.

However, the figures, released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, paint a gloomier picture when orders in the three months to August are analysed. Year on year there was a general rise total construction orders were up 2% but orders in the last three months fell by 8% compared with the previous three months.

Public housing took a 20% knock in the run-up to August; private commercial orders were 5% lower.

Age mix good


A workforce that includes both teenagers and fifty-somethings is best for business, according to a study by Jobcentre Plus. Some 73% of older and 63% of younger workers questioned believed that having colleagues of mixed age groups was important to them.

The study, carried out to mark the first anniversary of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, found 40% of older workers believe young colleagues teach them new skills.

Meanwhile, young workers admire the work ethic and loyalty of their older colleagues, with many highlighting their willingness to work anti-social hours and some 71% stating loyalty as a major quality of older workers.

China service

Setting up an office in China is now easier than you might think.

Asia Business HQ has been formed by Joanna Lavan to help businesses from the construction sector to expand into China and south east Asia.

Lavan offers a variety of services, starting from £40 per month. The basic package is a virtual office, including a Hong Kong address and an office reception service.

Additional options include a hot desk facility and the use of a fully serviced office within a business centre.

The company will also organise travel and accommodation for business, as well as arranging interpreters. For more information go to www.asiabusinesshq.com

Source

Building Sustainable Design