1. Northfield Ecocentre
Reducing Bills Project
2012-2013

2. Introduction
Outline of Session:
- Why Northfield Ecocentre?
- Explanation of how assessment was developed
- Reading Thermal Imagery
- Review of findings
- Top issues and recommendations
- Going forward

3. Why Northfield Ecocentre?
- Non-profit Organisation based in Birmingham
- Impartial advice organisation
- Extensive experience with domestic and non domestic
projects
- Part of Birmingham Green Commission
- Part of European Union Climate KIC Programme
- Able to offer environmental, energy and cost saving
measures

4. Initial Assessment...

5. Environmental Assessment
- Project called ‘Reducing Bills’
- Mainly to reflect time of budgetary restraints
- Prior discussions found interest of wider impacts
- Cost reduction strategies from other issues
- Interest about Green Business Tourism Award
- Aim to establish a ‘Baseline Figure’
- Used Unofficial Display Energy Certificate
- Aim to provide recommendations
- Another review in 2 years time to review progress

6. Baseline Figures Explanation
Based on Information Provided:
- Electricity Consumption
- Displayed in kWh
- Gas Consumption
- Some sites provided in m³
- Converted to kWh
- Carbon emissions data
- Electricity - used information from providers
- Gas – used information from Env Agency
- Displayed in tonnes of CO²
-Water figures displayed in litres
- Not all site data available

7. Baseline Display Energy Certificate
- Some sites provided with a Display Energy Certificate
-This is NOT OFFICIAL
- Cannot to be displayed or communicated outside of this
project
- Purpose - to allow comparison including ‘Degree Day
Data’
- To make sites aware of how useful tool is

8. Thermal Imagery
- Some sites provided with thermal imagery
- Mainly done on sites earlier in the year
- Needs to be a high temperature difference between
inside and outside
- Unnecessary on some buildings due to size, age, scale
- Shows differences in temperatures within image
- Temperature differences are relative
- Used effectively inside and outside on some buildings

9. Reading Thermal Imagery
Internal:
Heat Losses from plant:

10. Reading Thermal Imagery
Internal:
Drafts or heat loss:

11. Reading Thermal Imagery
External:
Heat Loss from Fabric:

12. Findings...

13. Baseline Figures Outline
- All museums now provided data for figures
- Some reports being finalised
Totals for Entire Project are as followed:
- Electricity
- Gas
- Carbon Footprint

14. Baseline Figures Individual Outline?

15. Top Common Issues...

16. Staff Behaviour – Low Cost
- Most museums visitors wore outside clothing
- Heating therefore mainly for staff/collection
- Some staff/volunteers in tshirt’s/shirts
- Tread carefully – they are a key resource
Example:
- Staff-led awareness
- Engage with staff on what they think
- Empower staff to come up with ideas
- Publish results
- Maybe small nudge on areas

17. Heating Controls – Low Cost
- Most museums had some control over heating
- Evidence of heating being left on over summer
- Heating levels too high in some places
- Most museums collected room data
Example:
- Turn boilers down to 60 degrees
- If rooms are hot, turn down/off heating, don’t open
windows
- Consider a system based on room temperature readings

18. Draft Proofing – Low/Medium Cost
- Many sites had drafts around doors, windows
- Even Grade 1 Listed Buildings can reduce drafts
- Think reversible systems – English Heritage Advice
- Will reduce energy consumption and raise comfort
Example:
- Low cost compression strips around doors
- Can be done in a way that can’t be seen
- Will reduce requirements on heating system
- Make staff/volunteers more comfortable

19. Lighting – Medium Cost
- Most museums still used high energy lighting
- Were extensively over lit
- Includes Tube lights, filament bulbs, halogen
- Lighting upgrades = quick win
- Upfront investment
Example:
- 35w incandescent spotlights
- Replace with 5w LED lights £10 each
- Uses 1/7 of the energy
- Lasts 5x as long
- Payback usually 1.5 years

20. Going Forward...

21. Environmental Management System
-‘Management System’
- ‘Framework of processes and procedures used to
ensure an organisation can fulfil all tasks required to
achieve objectives’ –straight from Wikipedia!
- Think H&S and Visitor Feedback
- Ultimately formalising a system of checks
- Can be as little or as complicated as you want
- Its how organisations of all sizes reduce env impacts
- ISO 14001 an international standard

22. Environmental Management System
Begin with a policy to set direction:
- Get top decision makers involved
- Enshrine a staff green champion/team
- Set areas of focus
- Don’t make it too sky high - ‘we want to stop
climate change’
- Consider how sustainability can be integrated
to core strategy

23. Environmental Management System
Environmental Programmes:
- From policy areas of focus
- Plan, do, check, act
Eg. Energy
- Year 1: Start monthly energy monitoring programme
- Green Champions/Manager ‘X’ Responsible
- Review meeting every 3 months
- Not working? Why?
- Year 2: Reduce energy by 10% on Year 1...

24. Environmental Management System
Environmental Programmes:
- From policy areas of focus – choose 2-3 to focus on
- Plan, do, check, act
Eg. Energy
- Year 1: Start monthly energy monitoring programme
- Green Champions/Manager ‘X’ Responsible
- Review meeting every 3 months
- Not working? Why?
- Year 2: Reduce energy by 10% on Year 1...

25. Environmental Management System
Environmental Programmes:
- From policy areas of focus – choose 2-3 to focus on
- Plan, do, check, act
Eg. Energy
- Year 1: Start monthly energy monitoring programme
- Green Champions/Manager ‘X’ Responsible
- Review meeting every 3 months
- Not working? Why?
- Year 2: Reduce energy by 10% on Year 1...

26. Environmental Management System
Communicate to Stakeholders!
- Tell staff/volunteers how they’re doing
- Tell the world how your doing!
- Consider using reporting as a motivation