Client - National Trust

BSSEC had completed previous work with the National Trust for several sites in Northern Ireland, involving energy saving opportunities and potential application for renewable energy.

The National Trust commissioned BSSEC again to assist with developing an audit strategy that would be required to achieve ESOS compliance in 2015. An initial audit of one site and a review for sample selection of other sites was needed in order to assess a mix of poorly and mid-range performing properties, all with a range of processes, to comply with ESOS.

Client Requirements

The National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the largest membership organisation in the United Kingdom. The trust describes itself as a charity that works to preserve and protect historic places and spaces with around 6,000 staff and 62,000 volunteers. The trust was founded in 1895 and given statutory powers, starting with the National Trust Act 1907. Historically, the trust tended to focus on English country houses, which still make up the largest part of its holdings, but it also protects historic landscapes such as in the Lake District, historic urban properties, and nature reserves.

BSSEC were commissioned to conduct an initial accompanied energy audit in an ESOS compliant format to provide the National Trust a basis for compliant auditing going forward. Owing to the extent of the National Trust’s properties around the UK, BSSEC were appointed to undertake a high-level desktop review of existing energy consumption and cost data to identify potential areas of weakness and to provide guidance on an appropriate sampling methodology to determine the number of audits required to meet ESOS requirements.

Methodology

Activities undertaken by the Trust include: catering, retail, administration, visitor centres, historic buildings, farming and horticulture. The aim of the audits was to gain an understanding of the potential energy efficiency improvements that could be implemented across the estate by understanding common features across a representative sample. The energy savings opportunities were identified by maintenance, operational, staff behavioral and technological changes at each site.

After undertaking an initial energy audit, the National Trust contracted BSSEC to complete further audits, ten in total, during 2015 in order to support the trust in achieving compliance. For each of the properties, the services provided by BSSEC to the National Trust included:

  • Desk-based review
  • Energy audits (Inc. site visits and analysis of technical measures)
  • Energy management and behavioural assessment (Inc. communications, policy, targets, strategy, monitoring and training)
  • Energy audit training
  • Energy savings and opportunities reports

Outcomes

Each audit undertaken illustrated a variety of results due to the differing nature of each property and location. Below illustrate the most common and significant potential energy savings opportunities, both non-renewable and renewable, identified by BSSEC for the National Trust sites audited:

  • Staff engagement
  • Monitoring and targeting
  • Time control
  • Draught proofing
  • Replacement of kitchen equipment
  • Replacement of LED lighting and PIR control
  • Night blinds on catering display fridges
  • Loft and pipe insulation
  • Install Solar Thermal
  • Install Solar PV
  • Install Biomass Plant

The robust business cases developed by BSSEC for the National Trust through a baseline review and opportunities assessment give an overall average potential energy saving of 17%.

“By harnessing the power of nature and being careful with the energy we use, the places we find special can be beautiful forever”

National Trust – Our Cause (Energy)

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