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Help for facilities managers to reduce energy bills
ERIKS Electro-Mechanical Services, part of ERIKS UK, a corporate member of the British Institute of Facilities Management, is offering a new support package aimed at helping facilities managers and facilities management (FM) companies cut costs and increase efficiency.
With the continuing increase in energy costs and with many fixed price deals currently coming to an end there has never been a greater emphasis on reducing energy bills in the FM sector.
Specifically designed to complement facilities management operations, the package draws on the product portfolio, resources and knowledge of ERIKS to go far beyond the simple repair services.
A key part of the package, especially given the current climate, is the energy surveys that the company conducts. In the past, these have revealed energy-wasting problems such as un-lagged pipes, poorly fitted refrigerator doors and leaking compressed air lines. By rectifying problems of this type, the company cut the energy bills for one of its clients by £60,000 per year.
Energy surveys include thermography, in which the company has invested heavily both in the training of personnel and in equipment. The company has 10 people certified as Level 2 thermographers conducting surveys that detect heat loss both in the fabric of a building and also in the electro mechanical equipment itself which assists towards a comprehensive solution.
Other aspects of the energy surveys include ultrasonic inspection, detecting costly air leaks from compressed air systems, and, demonstrating the engineering expertise with which it is traditionally associated, vibration analysis, shaft alignment and power consumption from both rotating and static equipment.
Following an energy survey, ERIKS is able to provide calculations that demonstrate the potential savings that can be achieved by rectifying any energy wasting problems. This information helps facilities managers to identify their priorities and gives them a clear indication on the length of payback on any capital expenditure they make. ERIKS is also able to offer advice about financing initiatives available through such bodies as the Carbon Trust.
For every facilities management project undertaken, the immediate expenditure and also the lifetime cost of the work is considered. For example, it may be possible to repair a faulty item of plant, but often costs will be lower in the medium and long term if it is replaced by a more energy-efficient equivalent.
In these cases, ERIKS gives advice and, if the decision is made to purchase new equipment, the company can negotiate the best possible price. Naturally, if repair is the best and most economic option, the company has all of the services and skills required to carry out this work to the highest standards.
ERIKS Electromechanical Services operates on a partnership basis with its clients in the FM sector. The package activities can include plant condition monitoring to reduce the risk of unplanned outages, routine maintenance, and even the undertaking of projects such building work and refurbishment of low- and medium-voltage electrical switchgear.
The facilities management support package can be formulated to cover every aspect of electrical, mechanical and building management operations.