Tag Archives: Energy Efficiency

Business, Energy, Swansea, Wales

Consumer Energy Solutions cracks on with Easter donation

SWANSEA based energy-efficiency firm, Consumer Energy Solutions (CES), has donated 200 chocolate eggs to local charity Faith in Families this Easter.

 

For every insulation project completed by the team in March, CES has donated and delivered an Easter egg to Faith in Families’ Community Cwtches Easter events. The firm donated 200 Easter eggs to correspond to 200 projects.

 

Established in 1999, Faith in Families has grown to encompass three community cwtches in the Swansea area. Each setting is based in deprived areas of Swansea, aiming to provide help and support to families within the community while also running Wales’ first multibank.

 

The charity transforms lives across Swansea Bay through its Community Cwtches & Multibank. It provides vital support to children and families facing challenges such as poverty, crisis, and trauma. The wide range of services include parent and toddler groups, 1-2-1 child therapy, parental & child support, outreach work & home support.

 

For its Easter events, Faith in Families will host three Easter egg hunts for children to enjoy, with food and resources available for both the children and their families.

 

CES is an ongoing supporter of Faith in Families’ work and has stepped in to support vulnerable families through multiple campaigns. These include the Back to School with a Cwtch campaign, donating to the distribution of hundreds of backpacks filled with essential school supplies, and making a £2500 donation to their Cwtch Up Appeal which provided new winter coats.

 

Cherrie Bija, CEO at Faith in Families, said: “We are incredibly grateful once again to CES for their generosity. Donations like this really make a huge difference to what we do, and it’s a great way of tracking their success with the number of eggs donated. Our Easter egg distribution was a great event, and with CES’ ongoing support we have been able to provide for low-income families in our area.”

 

Stephen Williams, Sales Director at CES, said: “We were delighted to get involved with another incredible campaign by Faith in Families. The work they do for vulnerable families in Swansea is incredible, and it’s an honour to have contributed to their long-lasting impact. Looking after our local community is one of our core values at CES, and so we are delighted to be working with such a meaningful charity.”

 

CES has permanent bases across Wales and the south west and a workforce of more than 800 people. The firm supports customers in energy-proofing their homes to reduce their carbon footprint and ultimately, their energy bills. CES is an approved installer of the Government-backed scheme ECO4.

 

For more information about CES and their community initiatives, visit: https://www.consumerenergysolutions.co.uk

Energy, Green Energy, Home Improvements, News

Green Home Systems reports 208% turnover growth to £17 million

Green Home Systems, a leader in the retrofit installation of energy efficiency measures for domestic properties, has announced a 208% rise in turnover, from £6m to £17m, during its latest financial year (ending 30th June 2024).

The Ayrshire-based business, which was founded in 2014 by brothers Peter and Steven Easton, installs insulation, air source heat pumps, solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage in homes across Scotland. Through its continued work, Green Home Systems is committed to ending fuel poverty in the country.

Since 2022, the company has increased the volume of work that it completes under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) Scheme – a government initiative designed to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions, which now represents  70% of the company’s overall turnover. Pivotal to this success has been the development of partnerships across 19 local authority areas throughout Scotland, as well as its continued growth in the Able to Pay private market, with  revenue in this stream increasing by 40% compared to the previous year.

Further revenue diversification was successfully delivered through the completion of major social housing retrofit contracts. Since June 2024, the company’s social housing retrofit division  has secured further significant contracts , which will see Green Home Systems improve the energy efficiency of more than 600 properties throughout Scotland for the financial year ending June 2025.

Commenting on the company’s recent successes, Green Home systems managing director, Alastair Macphie, said, “We are very pleased with these results and the significant growth achieved across the company. This demonstrates the continued success of our strategy to strengthen our market leading position as a reliable and trusted installer of energy efficiency measures across an increasingly diversified business model.”

Green Home Systems chairman, Steven Easton, added, “Last year we celebrated our ten-year anniversary. These results demonstrate the strength of the business after a decade of operations, proving the ability of our independent senior management team to deliver upon our diversification strategy and partnership approach. As the market opportunity continues to expand, our ambition is to be the partner of choice for homeowners and landlords seeking to improve energy efficiency in their properties. Our mission is to play a significant role in reducing fuel poverty and preparing domestic properties across the UK for net zero.”

In addition achieving strong commercial growth over the past financial year, Green Home Systems also made a significant number of new appointments, nearly tripling its team size from 33 to 91. For more information about the company’s  vital work tacking UK fuel poverty, visit: www.greenhomesystems.co.uk/.

Business, Energy

Sustainable businesses take over Swansea for Green Economy Conference

The Green Economy Conference and Exhibition 2024, organised by 4theRegion and sponsored by the City Energy Network in collaboration with Consumer Energy Solutions (CES), brought together green businesses and organisations in South West Wales on Tuesday 19 November.

Hosted in Swansea Arena, the Conference was a place for knowledge sharing and inspiration surrounding sustainability and green practises, with talks and workshops hosted by market leaders. The event also featured a Sustainable Construction Showcase, a Decarbonisation Workshop, and a session on Sustainable Construction Skills & Training, offering attendees valuable insights into the latest advancements and best practices in sustainable building and energy-efficient construction.

The event featured over 70 leading organisations from Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, and Neath Port Talbot, all showcasing their efforts to support Wales’ transition to a more sustainable future. As the headline sponsor, CES stood out as a champion of energy efficiency, helping households across the region embrace sustainability.

CES, part of the City Energy Network, employs over 750 people and specialises in delivering energy-saving solutions to homes in South Wales and the South West. By providing services such as renewable heating, solar PV installation, and insulation, CES empowers customers to lower their carbon footprints while cutting energy costs. The company has played a pivotal role in improving the energy efficiency of over 2,400 homes annually, contributing significantly to Wales’ green ambitions.

Stephen Williams, Sales and Marketing Director at CES said: “The Green Economy Conference is an essential event for connecting businesses, fostering collaboration, and showcasing the incredible work being done to drive the green economy. It was fantastic to meet so many inspiring businesses from our region who are committed to sustainability.

“As the headline sponsor, CES is honoured to have supported this initiative, which is not just about raising awareness but also about driving real action towards a sustainable future for Wales. We look forward to continuing our journey toward a greener future and to contributing to the progress of next year’s event.”

Energy

Swansea energy efficiency firm supports government’s clean power drive this Wales Climate Week

This Wales Climate Week, Swansea energy efficiency firm Consumer Energy Solutions (CES) is supporting secretary of state for energy security and net zero Ed Miliband following his recent article in The Guardian, where he insists that a shift to clean power by 2030 is not just achievable, but in progress.

With the cost-of-living crisis highlighting the UK’s dependence on fossil fuel markets and leaving families and businesses exposed to energy price spikes, Miliband emphasised the importance of transitioning to clean energy sources like renewables.

He claims that renewable energy will not only improve our environment but will lead to more financial security, and the significant economic opportunities the shift will bring can lead to job creation.

This is an idea encompassed by CES, as the fast-growing company employs over 750 employees, creating 581 jobs in Swansea this year alone. Established in 2016, CES delivers money-saving energy efficiency improvements to homes across South Wales and the South West, supporting customers in energy-proofing their homes to reduce their carbon footprint, and ultimately, their energy bills.

Having saved customers over 31,000 carbon tonnes over the last three years alongside monetary savings through the government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) 4 grant, which directly contributes to reducing carbon emissions and supporting energy efficiency in low-income households, CES is an example of Miliband’s vision of a government and industry working together to tackle energy challenges.

Sal Furreed, Operations Director at CES, said: “Ed Miliband’s recent discussion of clean energy has resonated with us at CES as the alignment between our goals and activities and his are undeniable. We are in the process of redeveloping Welsh homes through the ECO scheme, allowing many low-income households to access life-changing energy efficiency measures and reap the rewards of supporting a green future.

“As we set out a vision for energy efficiency and renewable energy to intersect to create a sustainable future, we envision our role in the transformation as supporting the government’s goals whilst continuing to address the needs of the more vulnerable communities of which we are a part.”

Miliband’s article follows the UK Autumn Budget where an additional £6 billion was allocated towards home retrofit and energy efficiency improvements from 2025 to 2028, with a focus on training and scaling up the retrofit workforce in order to implement energy-saving measures more broadly and efficiently across homes in the UK.

CES has recently opened a training academy in Treorchy, South Wales, to continue to upskill their retrofit workforce and to provide wider services as an accredited training partner for SWIP.

In response to the budget, Lewis John, Managing Director at CES, said: “It’s great to see the government’s funding and training strategy as part of a broader push to improve home energy efficiency, prioritising retrofitting social housing and low-income homes. The maintenance and extension of the ECO scheme is brilliant as we can continue to provide essential work to those in low-income areas.

“However, whilst these actions are welcomed, we believe more can be done. Extensive long-term funding and regulatory clarity is needed to meet the UK’s broader climate targets and achieve deeper retrofitting across all housing types.”

For more information about CES, visit: https://www.consumerenergysolutions.co.uk/

Business, Business Expansion, Business News, Construction, Energy

Consumer Energy Solutions invests £500k in Treorchy training centre

A LEADING consumer energy efficiency company has opened a brand new state-of-the-art, immersive training facility in Treorchy at a cost of £0.5 million, paving the way for thousands of recruits to learn the skills needed to enter, and progress within, the energy trade.

Swansea-based Consumer Energy Solutions (CES) supports customers in reducing their carbon footprint and reducing their energy bills and has already successfully improved the energy efficiency of over 8,000 homes across the UK.

The new insulation department training facility in the heart of the Welsh Valleys has been purpose-built to allow for comprehensive training in various insulation techniques and complements CES’s heating systems training facility in Cardiff which it acquired last year.

The Treorchy training facility, on the Abergorki Industrial Estate, encompasses a 5,000 ft2 main area, 7,500 ft2 first floor storage plus three classrooms. The facility is also used to train CES installers on the rules, regulations, and techniques involved in installing ventilation equipment, which is necessary before any insulation work begins.

Ben Strinati, Insulation Director at Consumer Energy Solutions, said: “The way the business was growing, and the need to recruit more and more insulation teams, combined with a lack of suitable training infrastructure present in the industry, we took the initiative to construct our own custom-built facility and invested £500,000 in the Treorchy site. We take great pride in our advanced training facilities which have been purposefully designed to educate both new recruits and experienced team members in the CES way. Being able to train individuals in all the necessary trades, means we can execute an installation from start to finish, making it a quick and smooth experience for our customers.”

CES has its headquarters in Swansea with permanent bases in south Wales, north Wales, west Wales and Exeter. It currently operates 42 teams of insulation installers, each of which includes carpenters, dry-liners, plasterers and multi-skilled installers, alongside eight dedicated loft insulation teams. The company is committed to providing comprehensive training for all staff and arranges regular manufacturer training programmes and seminars to ensure installers are up to date with frequent regulation reviews and advancement in technology. Basic training starts with an NVQ qualification in construction and building treatments with further learning based on the energy efficiency measure and the method of installation. Additionally, all operatives receive annual training in the latest health and safety regulation, promoting a safe installation for themselves and customers.

The Treorchy facility is part of CES’s ambitious expansion plans which include recruiting 15 insulation teams every month. Finished to such a high standard, the unit has attracted interest from external companies looking to utilise the centre for in-house development purposes.

Ben continued: “We have a highly experienced recruitment team which is supporting our growth vision by finding the right professionals for the roles available, whether in-house or in the field. Our training facilities then come into play, providing crucial training and coaching opportunities for employees.

“At a time when fuel poverty and the climate crisis is such a high priority, we are determined to do all we can to help people reduce their energy usage and save money on their bills and the best way we can do this is by building and training the next generation of energy efficiency professionals to reach more people.”

For further information, visit www.consumerenergysolutions.co.uk.

Energy, News

Businesses urged to revisit energy options amid Red Sea conflict

Following a spate of attacks impacting shipping routes in the Red Sea, commercial energy and sustainability consultancy Advantage Utilities has urged businesses to revisit other energy options in light of additional costs and delays. 

With freight companies sailing around Africa to avoid turmoil throughout the region, businesses should explore their energy options including optimisation technology to reduce energy consumption, and also consider flexible procurement methods or longer term energy contracts. These can minimise exposure to surges in wholesale energy price and increase sustainability where consumption is reduced via more efficient practices and equipment.

Last month, wholesale markets experienced a sizeable price jump in the price of oil and gas, following attacks orchestrated by the Houthis. Q1-24 gas recently jumped by 13% at one point, whilst Brent Crude rose by nearly 5%.

Advantage Utilities CEO Andrew Grover, cautioned that further price increases may still occur in the current bearish energy market, stating: “Should the ongoing conflict escalate further, the negative bearing on world energy prices could be significant. Disruption lasting for two more weeks could increase prices further. This is at the forefront of our outlook as we head into 2024. Businesses should consider how they would react if further disruption does occur, and exploring the benefit of securing longer term or flexible traded contracts should be considered as a means of mitigating further volatility in future.”

In addition to disruption in the Red Sea, the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to be a source of uncertainty for energy markets. Following recent escalation in December, the effect on markets would ordinarily have been one of shock. But with much of Europe already using alternative provisions, the impact of the conflict has been somewhat limited, with above-average EU gas stock fullness cushioning potential price increases.

However, uncertainty remains an ongoing issue for markets, with the unpredictable developments in several conflicts continuing to cause spikes in wholesale energy market prices.

“To mitigate ongoing uncertainty, businesses can better prepare for unforeseen wholesale price increases by exploring options including voltage optimisation, energy efficient equipment and heat pumps. This is in addition to onsite generation and flexible procurement methods and, where appropriate, through longer term energy contracts,” Grover adds.

Further guidance on energy developments and solutions can be found within Advantage Utilities’ most recent report here.

For more information on Advantage Utilities, visit www.advantageutilities.com

News

Keysource Adds to Sustainability Portfolio with Ekkosense

Keysource, the datacentre and critical environment specialist, has signed a strategic partnership with EkkoSense, the global software leader in AI and VR driven thermal optimisation for critical live environments, in a move further strengthening its extensive sustainability portfolio that helps datacentres on their full life sustainability journey from design through to operation.

Under the terms of the global agreement, Keysource will offer the EkkoSense datacentre optimization software to its new and existing customers as part of its solutions designed to maximise energy efficiency, save money and reduce carbon. Keysource will also support EkkoSense globally by providing professional services to users of its software as required to help them realise savings today and drive forward on a continual improvement basis.

The EkkoSense software provides real-time operational visibility enabling organisations to remove thermal and power risk, optimize cooling capacity, minimize energy waste and lead the way to achieve net zero across critical M&E infrastructure. It will complement Keysource’ existing sustainability focussed portfolio, from considering embodied carbon in design, through to full lifecycle optimisation, when combined with Keysource’ 40+ years’ critical infrastructure experience.

Chris West, Head of Manages Services at Keysource, said: “This is a powerful and mutually beneficial strategic partnership with EkkoSense providing the identification and visualisation of the opportunities and Keysource supporting datacentres to take the action necessary to realise and maximise the benefits. The result for customers will be a reduction in energy consumption, and increased sustainability, all helping to drive a sustainable strategy, to meet increasing ESG and surrounding regulatory requirements and a drive to NetZero.”

Matthew Farnell, EkkoSense’s EMEA Director of Sales added: “Our EkkoSoft Critical AI-driven data centre optimisation software is increasingly seen as the smart choice for organisations looking to optimise data centre performance while also delivering against their sustainability strategy. Keysource already offers one of our sector’s strongest portfolio of data centre energy and sustainability services, and we look forward to working together to help unlock further value for their customers.”

Energy, News

Iskratel introduces energy-efficiency labelling, calls for industry-wide adoption

The initiative is the “missing piece of the jigsaw” to unlocking a greener Europe and reducing operators’ carbon footprints

Vienna, Austria, 23 May 2022 – Committed to open and transparent communication about the energy consumption of its equipment, Iskratel has started using energy-efficiency labels for all of its new broadband products. According to Iskratel, the labels will improve credibility and comparability, and enable operators to make informed decisions when selecting products that reduce their environmental impact.

The labels state the product’s power consumption and the level of compliance with the EU Code of Conduct on Energy Consumption of Broadband Equipment, provided as a percentage of the limit set by the Code of Conduct. Similar in design to those used for energy classes of domestic appliances, the labels will be easy to read and understand for operators and end-users alike.

“To make environmentally responsible decisions, operators need credible and comparable figures about power consumption of the equipment they procure and use,” said Matjaž Pogacnik, Strategy Consultant at Iskratel. “In meeting operator needs, equipment vendors must be aware of their responsibility in reducing their overall carbon footprint throughout the product lifecycle.”

Issued by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, the Code of Conduct outlines the limits of power consumption of broadband equipment and specifies the test methodology. The Code of Conduct is the framework for credible and comparable power consumption figures. As a signatory of the code, Iskratel is committed to ensuring that its broadband-access equipment complies with the strict limits on power consumption imposed by the code, and clearly informs customers and users about their usage.

“The introduction of labels will provide the missing piece of the jigsaw in helping operators and end-users correctly estimate the carbon footprint that results from the specific mix of resources needed to generate electricity,” added Pogacnik. “We call upon the whole industry to join Iskratel’s initiative and take a positive step towards a greener Europe with an industry-wide adoption of Code of Conduct compliancy labelling.”

Pogacnik will call for industry-wide support during his speech on 25 May at the annual FTTH Conference in Vienna, from 23 to 25 May 2022. Pogacnik and other Iskratel experts will be on hand at stand G24, ready to provide more information about the initiative and Iskratel’s latest broadband solutions.

Energy, News

International energy efficiency business announces strong UK expansion and growth plans for 2022

Best.Energy, the business energy monitoring and management company, announces an exciting growth stage in 2022, as it looks to expand its energy efficiency operations in the UK.

With most businesses wasting between 10-40% of their energy spend and the energy price cap set to rise by 54% in April 2022, energy efficiency and management has never been more important. A boardroom issue for most organisations globally, Best.Energy helps businesses measure and reduce their energy expenditure – the first and second steps on their journey to Carbon Net Zero.

The company will aim to double its current headcount of 60, in line with strong growth projections. The recruitment drive will centre around the Technology and Energy Services teams, in charge of R&D and software technology, and data science and analytics respectively. Additional Client Services roles will also be scoped to support the onboarding of new customers.

To facilitate accelerated customer acquisition, automation is a key focus for Best.Energy in 2022, with plans to build and upgrade its infrastructure to continue its top-class service to clients and partners alike.

These ambitious plans will take place in Best.Energy new headquarters in Bristol Business Park. The company recently completed this major relocation, moving from its previous home in St Austell, Cornwall. This follows significant growth driven by the move to Carbon Net Zero and rising energy costs, which are substantially impacting commercial customers.

Troy Wrigley, CEO of Best.Energy, said, “We are tremendously excited about our plans for 2022 and demonstrating to companies up and down the country that energy efficiency is the first step in reducing both our carbon footprints and utility bills. Our move to Bristol is key in laying the foundations for our larger teams and welcoming the best and brightest to the business.

“We are investing heavily in infrastructure and operations so that our goals of bringing energy efficiency to more businesses across the UK runs smoothly and with our same high standard of care and implementation.

“I love it when our people tell me they wake up thinking ‘I’m going to do some good today’ – that’s the passion that we have. To help businesses make real and substantial savings and to reduce the use of carbon, leading to a more sustainable future for us all.”

Energy efficiency is the most sustainable solution

Best.Energy is on a mission to demonstrate that energy efficiency is the cheapest, cleanest and most accessible method for businesses to reduce both their carbon footprint and their utility bills. Best.Energy’s state of the art energy monitoring and management technology, Eniscope Air, uses the Internet of Things, Big Data and Automated Intelligence to give organisations the power to map out their energy usage in granular, asset-level detail – then target and execute savings remotely from the Cloud.

Around 90% of commercial buildings do not have a Building Management System (BMS). And with 85-95% of European building stock projected to still be standing in 2050, there is a critical need to gain control and reduce the use of energy. This is achievable by installing technology that is non-obtrusive, can be fitted retroactively and delivers immediate savings. Best.Energy’s Eniscope Air solution provides 90% of the value of a Building Management System, but with only 10% of the cost.

Why Bristol?

Founded in 2006, Best.Energy’s relocation aims to take advantage of the atmosphere of innovation and acceleration in the Bristol tech and sustainability scene after outgrowing their first commercial space in St Austell, Cornwall.

Bristol was named the most sustainable city in the UK according to a 2021 study, continuing its 13-year streak of green accolades. Including ‘the most sustainable city’ in 2008 from Forum for the Future and the first UK city to be awarded the European Green Capital in 2015.

Similarly, Bristol has consistently been cited as an up-and-coming tech hot spot in the UK. Published research from the Government’s Digital Economy Council in December 2021, ranked Bristol in the top five of the ‘Levelling Up Power Tech League 2021’, behind the likes of Cambridge and Oxford. SETsquared, the University of Bristol start-up incubator, was awarded ‘hottest accelerator’ in Europe at The Europas 2020.

Best.Energy comes from over 30 years of energy efficiency heritage. CEO Troy Wrigley’s father Ian Wrigley was an early pioneer of energy efficiency and monitoring technology. In 1982, he invented FuelBoss, a boiler management solution, and in the early 1990s, founded Somar International, an energy saving solutions company. Having witnessed the power of energy efficiency from a young age, Troy went on to found Best.Energy with family and childhood friends Ben Willcocks and Tim McMahon in 2006.

With an international network of over 100 partners, Best.Energy delivers projects efficiently and secures impressive energy – and cost – savings for global organisations.

  • Their Eniscope technology has saved 2.7 million kWh of energy across all 120 7-Eleven locations in Denmark, an 11.5% average energy saving.
  • Similarly, Best.Energy partnered with 105 KFC sites in Malaysia, producing on average 18% of energy savings.

Principally making their mark in the quick service restaurant and food retail sectors, Best.Energy has now expanded its remit to include any energy intensive business that requires energy management and monitoring. Their global reach now stretches across over 2.1 billion data points processed every day.

News

Expert Advice on Minimising Your Company’s Carbon Footprint – Even If Your Business is Entirely Remote.

Norango, the World’s First Zero-Emissions Online Contact Centre Shares Top Tips for Minimising CO2 Emissions

In the light of COP26 UN Climate Summit held in Glasgow, Scotland earlier this month, many businesses are left wondering how they can reduce their carbon footprint and adapt to changing climate policies. It’s clear that just switching to remote working is not enough – all companies and individuals need to make extra effort to reduce their CO2 emissions on all levels. Norango, the world’s first zero-emissions contact centre, shares top tips on how to minimise your company’s carbon footprint – even if you’ve already switched to an entirely remote business model.

Choose Sustainable Web Hosting Services

This might seem like an unexpected step to take, especially for businesses that are already working hard to reduce their carbon footprint in other ways, but it’s a factor you will want to consider. Hosting services are invisible fossil fuel consumers, as they require huge amounts of energy to power their data servers and keep them cool at all times. By switching to a sustainable hosting service provider, you can take your remote business to a new level of energy efficiency. Take some time to research the various providers and find one that is right for your needs.

Purchase Carbon Offsets

Even for the most environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient businesses, it’s hard to bring your carbon footprint down to net zero. According to an eight-month carbon footprint assessment conducted, a remote worker at Norango produces only 0.5 tonnes of CO2 compared to an average of 3.5 tonnes produced by a regular office worker, which skyrockets up to 20 tonnes of CO2 per worker at high-energy organisations. For companies like Norango that have come close to bringing their CO2 emissions down to a minimum, carbon offset programmes are a highly effective way to help you reach your net-zero goal.

Invest in Educational Programmes

Change starts with awareness. For many companies, the conversation around climate change still seems complex, confusing and simply overwhelming. Your company can combat the confusion and make a positive difference to the health of our planet by upskilling your employees, customers and community on climate issues. Climate-centred educational programmes can focus on the easy steps to take to make your lifestyle more sustainable and energy-efficient.