Energy Security
‘The capacity of a country for ensuring an adequate, affordable, and continuous supply of energy for consistent and uninterrupted use of energy by users nationally’.
Why it matters!
Energy security is increasingly affected by climate change, resource depletion, growth in demand, and geo-political issues. It not only has the potential to affect us all in the future, but it is doing so now! The impacts are clear and dramatic: disruption to supply and increases in price.
Energy is obviously a key input into virtually all economic and domestic activity, and in the UK and many other countries, we rely on both supply and cost security. Recent warnings of ‘apocalyptic’ price rises, energy shortages, power cuts, brown outs and so on have therefore acted as a wakeup call. The implications are stark, it is becomes hugely challenging for businesses to be able to plan effectively for the future.
When it comes to adopting a more considered approach to sustainability, energy security is often considered to be too big an issue for most organisations to influence. There are, however proactive steps you can take to minimise any potential for disruption to your business from loss of energy supply.
Why is it time to Act?
Supply and cost uncertainty will continue, and may well become more severe. The causes and impacts may be well-known, but we believe there are significant barriers to action:
– The environmental sector is largely unregulated, and guidance is often confusing or conflicting;
– Energy advice in particular is rarely impartial and is often product or manufacturer-led.
The UK’s relatively low gas storage capacity appears to have put it in a more precarious position than its European neighbours, as it is forced to rely more on pipeline and liquified natural gas imports’.
New Statesman Sept 2021
Embrace it – don’t Fight it!
From our base in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, Edge Efficiency help clients shift from a reactive to a proactive approach, embedding sustainability within the heart of their Business Plans so as to improve long-term resilience. Embracing a targeted environmental strategy will often prove to be financially beneficial. We work with clients to:
– Elevate environmental importance and integrate it into your Business Plan
– Start by improving existing equipment and maximising energy efficiency.
– Integrate sustainability into planned changes.
– Improve the value of their buildings.
– Keep up to date. Understand what’s happening in the world of energy and which investments provide the best returns.
– Develop Low Carbon Feasibility Studies to assess options before investment. Is a Heat Pump or Heat Recovery a better option in terms of payback?
– Manage improvements through revenue as well as capital investment.
It’s confusing – don’t be afraid to ask for help. EDGE Efficiency can provide ongoing support through our Environmental Facilities Management (EFM) service.
We ensure that our clients don’t settle for generic solutions by:
– Undertaking site-specific environmental analyses, covering energy, buildings and operations.
– Optimise our recommendations to meet strategic business objectives.
John N. Pickup B(Arch), RIBA, ARB, RIBA Client Design Adviser
Director EDGE Efficiency and MAD Yorkshire’s Environmental Solutions Expert
