October 9, 2024 Georgia Young
How Net Zero consultancy and energy management go hand in hand
Understanding the connection between Net Zero and energy management gives businesses a unique opportunity to streamline their efforts. Both are essential practices that contribute to reducing carbon emissions and improving efficiency, but when combined, they create an effective partnership in the journey towards sustainability.
What is energy management?
Energy management involves monitoring energy use, identifying inefficiencies, and finding opportunities to reduce waste. This practice not only helps businesses lower costs but also minimises their environmental impact. By optimising energy consumption, organisations can achieve long-term savings and meet increasing regulatory requirements around sustainability.
Understanding Net Zero
Net Zero refers to balancing the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted with those removed from the atmosphere. Governments and businesses are adopting Net Zero targets to mitigate climate change by reducing their carbon footprints. Achieving this requires a mix of emission reductions, minimisation of energy consumption, as well as decarbonisation measures, such as carbon capture or renewable energy integration.
Where does energy management and Net Zero overlap?
The overlap between energy management and Net Zero goals are the actions taken to improve energy efficiency. This includes reducing waste, optimising technology and systems, and encouraging behavioural change. Energy monitoring is an example of an overlap, as it helps organisations understand how much energy they’re using and where it’s being wasted. This then provides the essential data needed to assess associated emissions. Electrification is another example, as swapping from gas to electricity for your energy sources is more energy efficient. If that electricity is also sourced from renewable generation, it also helps achieve carbon reduction.
What key actions drive emission reduction?
Energy waste monitoring: Through energy monitoring, a consultant can help businesses identify areas of inefficiency and wastage, making opportunities to optimise energy use clear. This could reduce operational costs but also supports carbon reporting, a key aspect of reaching Net Zero targets.
Energy efficiency: Energy efficiency improvements, such as upgrading equipment, reduce overall demand for energy. This has a positive impact as these actions cut back emissions and supports sustainability goals.
Retrofitting buildings: Retrofitting existing buildings with energy-efficient technologies ensures that businesses can operate in a more sustainable and cost-effective way.
Renewable energy: Switching to renewable energy sources like solar or wind helps organisations reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, significantly lowering GHG emissions and moving closer to Net Zero. Renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are one way for business to access renewable energy at a potentially more favourable price.
How do energy consultants bridge the gap?
Consultants are key to helping businesses align their energy management strategies with long-term sustainability goals and Net Zero ambitions. They assess carbon data, establish a baseline and set achievable targets, and identify cost-saving opportunities along the way. They are essential in smoothing the transitions and ensuring businesses make meaningful progress towards Net Zero.
How can Amber help?
At Amber we have a holistic approach to energy management and to tackling cost, consumption and carbon. We offer a range of services that will support and improve your business’s energy strategy. If you are interested in carbon consulting or carbon reduction roadmaps, please get in touch.