ESB’s Energy Management Hub

Energy costs are a sizeable outlay for any business. So what business could say no to a 20 per cent reduction in energy costs. ESB’s Smart Energy Service, through its Energy Management Hub, is able to deliver such savings for its customers, or more.

Even with just a few on the spot changes to a building’s energy system, and little or no expense for a business, the Hub can usually deliver savings of 20 per cent. For longer term energy projects identified, even greater savings can be made. In addition, as well as providing financial savings, a company’s environmental impact can be reduced by lowering carbon emissions.

“We collaborate with large energy users, organisations who typically spend more than €500,000 a year on energy, to help them to reduce costs and carbon emissions, saving €55 million for customers in the last 18 months,” explained Michael Mahon, Head of ESB’s Smart Energy Services. “We work with our clients to design and develop energy projects suitable to their business and we then provide the engineers, project managers and financing that will deliver the savings for them.”

This is all done with the Hub at the core. Using sophisticated monitoring within ESB with advanced energy management technologies and data analytics. ESB connects the customer to the Hub by installing specific monitoring tools on its premises and then monitors all their energy and water usage. The data is analysed by experienced ESB engineers who based on knowledge of other similar companies in the respective industries have the unique ability to understand the savings opportunities the energy data presents. The team can help the customer understand how they use energy and how better to control it and advise on efficient and renewables solutions, such as for example using battery storage to balance the energy load between day and night usage.

Every business is different and the team tailors solutions to account for a customer’s individual needs. “When a company comes to us for help with their energy savings, the first thing we do is to take the time to understand their operations and how they work,” added Mahon. “It is common for one of our engineers to work with the customer for several months to understand the business inside-out, before we propose any measures. For instance, when we work with a hotel, we research and understand the critical areas in the hotel to see what they absolutely require for the smooth operation of the facility. Understandably, a hotel needs to have full confidence that they will always have power. Once we understand a company’s needs, we then design a set of measures appropriate for their business, to deliver immediate and significant savings.”

A Happy Customer

The Hub has delivered for all types of businesses, including retail outlets, airports, commercials buildings, manufacturing operations and hotel and leisure facilities. One of the Hub’s satisfied customers are the operators behind the iconic CHQ Building in Dublin Docklands. The building dates back to the 1820s and was initially used as a wine and tobacco warehouse and wasn’t built with 21st century energy needs in mind! And its reincarnation as CHQ, with retail and event space, as well as a museum and the innovation lab, Dogpatch, was using enormous amounts of energy very inefficiently and it needed to be addressed.

The CHQ underwent a retrofit, with highly-efficient energy lighting installed and over 2,000 fittings replaced. All in all, the project led to a 60 per cent reduction in energy load. There was also no upfront investment, with funding provided through ESB’s Smart Energy Investment Scheme.

Making significant savings in energy costs should be a no-brainer for any business.

For more information, visit:https://www.esb.ie/our-businesses/smart-energy-services/energy-management-hub