Energy monitoring and targeting: theory and practice

Newcastle, 4 December 2008 (11 am to 5 pm)

Introduction

Monitoring and targeting is central to any effective programme of energy management. On one hand it provides warnings about unexpected excess consumption; on the other, it can give an objective estimate of savings achieved (by whatever means). This course is suitable for those who want to implement an M&T scheme or make an existing scheme more effective. It is intended for "energy managers" in the widest sense, including professionals such as works managers, facilities managers, plant engineers, and works engineers who fulfil that role part-time. It covers energy use in processes and buildings (at single or multiple sites), and has applications in the management of water and other consumables and utilities.

Class size will be limited to eight, and the atmosphere informal, with questions and discussion throughout.

Expert presenter Vilnis Vesma

Objectives

At the end of the class, you will know how to

Detect exceptions by routine monitoring
Prioritise them by excess cost
Account properly for the weather, production activity levels, and other quantifiable influences
Reveal inefficiency and waste through analysis of past behaviour
Focus energy surveys where there will be most benefit
Verify and quantify the benefit of energy-saving initiatives and projects
Forecast annual budgets accurately from just a few weeks' data
Track budgets more effectively right through the year
Benefit from enhanced benchmarking opportunities

You will be able to use the knowledge directly to improve your own "home-made" M&T schemes or to specify the features required from M&T software suppliers. Handouts include an Excel workbook containing specimen macros, special functions and sample charts, plus recent weekly heating and cooling degree-day data.

Core content

Detecting avoidable waste

Deluged in data? Summarise, filter and focus
Quantifying and prioritising exceptions
Action, not analysis

Target-setting methods

Weaknesses of traditional methods
Activity-based targeting: the powerful alternative
Setting tough but achievable targets
Accounting for the weather
Multiple influences and complex scenarios

The power of cusum charting

Pinpointing adverse changes
Validating a target
Proving savings
Quantifying the impact of past avoidable waste

Spreadsheet tricks and tips

M&T-friendly data layouts
Regression analysis
False-colour raster plots for visualising fine-grained data
"Traffic-light" displays

All techniques will be demonstrated through worked examples and practical exercises, and spreadsheet examples are included as Excel files to keep.

Prerequisites

Basic familiarity with Microsoft Excel will be useful but is not essential. Although the course includes a small amount of basic mathematics.

Tutor

Vilnis Vesma MA CEng MEI has many years' continuous experience of designing, installing, supporting and operating energy monitoring and targeting schemes, and providing training for existing or potential users. This includes creating spreadsheet-based tools for energy management. He wrote a textbook on the subject (Managing Energy with a Desktop Computer, Energy Publications, 1987) and presented his first Energy Spreadsheet Masterclass in 1988. The organisations to which he has supplied M&T tools and know-how span a wide range of sectors including manufacturing industry as well as commercial and public sector organisations. He has written numerous articles on the subject. As well as authoring the government advice booklet Fuel Efficiency Booklet 13: Waste Avoidance Measures (1995) and the Carbon Trust's CTG008: Monitoring and targeting (2008), he is a specialist contributor on M&T to Croner's Energy Management and Gee Publishing's Energy Saver, and publishes the definitive guide to M&T techniques on the web. The UK's former Action Energy programme retained Mr Vesma as a strategic advisor on energy monitoring and targeting.

Typical feedback from past delegates

"...opened up tremendous possibilities"
"...aimed at a very useful and practical level"
"Friendly, understandable seminar"
"I found it amazing what could be produced/extracted from such basic [energy and weather] information"

Timetable

The course commences at 11:00 am and finishes at 5:00 pm with the opportunity for individual advice thereafter. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Fees

The fee for the class is Ł250 plus VAT

Orders should be sent to

Training Division
NIFES Consulting Group
Spinney Hill
Landmere Lane
Ruddington
Nottingham NG11 6ND

Enquiries can be addressed to the presenter (email vilnis.vesma@nifes.co.uk or call 01531 821350)