Top 10 tips for compliance – ESOS

The Energy Institute has today published its comprehensive guide to ESOS compliance. It outlines the main routes to compliance and explains the data collection and reporting process.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT HERE

Independent energy consultancy Utilyx has also published its 10 practical tips for energy managers who are tasked with implementing the measures needed to ensure compliance. Utilyx head of consulting and strategy Caroline Pitt outlines them below:

ESOS – Ten Tips for Energy Managers

1. Do your homework. The first step is to identify the work you have already done! Many ESOS requirements will already be met by voluntary initiatives or in complying with existing regulation.
2. Mind the Gap! Do a gap analysis to establish what else you need to do to comply, before you undertake any new work on data analysis or arrange site visits to your buildings.
3. Don’t forget your vehicles. Some businesses will choose to exclude transport using the coverage rules, but don’t assume you can – make sure you have checked which of your buildings, process and transport energy uses you need to consider.
4. Decide who to appoint as your lead assessor. As long as they are suitably qualified, you can appoint a member of your team or an external advisor. They will ensure you meet the ESOS requirements and, once appointed, can take a lot of weight off your mind.
5. Agree your sign-off route. A senior manager must confirm that they have seen and considered the ESOS audit’s energy reduction recommendations. Make sure you know who this is going to be from the outset.
6. Build on best practice. Use ESOS as an opportunity to identify best practice in your portfolio – and then spread that across your business to save time and money, as well as to ensure compliance.
7. Keep an audit trail. Each eligible business must submit an evidence pack by 5 December 2015. It is critical that your evidence pack complies with the specific ESOS regulations so ensure this is collated thoroughly.
8. Watch the deadlines. December 2015 may feel far away now, but experience from CRC shows that planning ahead avoids last minute headaches. Make sure you and your colleagues know who needs to do what, by when to comply with ESOS.
9. Put yourself in front of your Board. ESOS is a great opportunity to put the case for saving energy back on the Board’s agenda. Use it to raise awareness of the scope for cost savings in your organisation.
10. Think of ESOS as an opportunity not a burden. An ESOS audit identifies energy savings which translate to cost and carbon savings. Go the extra step and implement them to have a real impact on your bottom line.