Monitoring and targeting theory and practice

Introduction

This course is suitable for those who appreciate the central role of monitoring and targeting within an energy cost control programme, and who are committed to implementing an M&T scheme or making an existing scheme more effective. It is intended for energy managers (and for works managers, plant and works engineers, and facilities managers) from organisations spending over Ł100,000 per year on utilities.

There are three variants on the programme, with different emphases:

[P] Process energy
[B] Energy in buildings
[C] M&T as a consultancy tool

Where the symbol [P], [B], or [C] appears against an item below, it is primarily intended for that audience and will have less emphasis (or no coverage) for the other groups.

The group size will be limited to eight, and the atmosphere will be informal.

Delegates meet over coffee before a class at Three Choirs Vineyard

Objectives

At the end of the class, delegates will know how to

Detect exceptions by routine monitoring, allowing properly for the weather, production activity levels, and other quantifiable influences
Reveal inefficiency and waste through analysis of past behaviour
Focus energy surveys where there will be most benefit
Prioritise opportunities according to their loss value
Verify and quantify the benefit of energy-saving initiatives and projects
Forecast annual budgets accurately from just a few weeks' data
Track budgets more effectively right through the year
Benefit from enhanced benchmarking opportunities
Adjust energy savings for product mix, output, and weather [P][C]

Delegates will be able to use the knowledge directly to improve their own "home-made" M&T schemes or to specify the features required from M&T software suppliers. Handouts include an Excel workbook containing specimen macros, special functions and sample charts, plus recent weekly heating and cooling degree-day data.

Core content

Target-setting methods

Weaknesses of traditional methods
Activity-based targets as the key to success
Targets, standards, and historical baselines
Setting an aggressive but achievable target
Multiple driving factors [P][C]
More complex cases [P][C]
Correcting for product mix, output and weather [P][C]

Using degree days to account for the weather

Degree-day calculation methods [B][C]
Cooling as well as heating [B][C]
Alternative base temperatures [B][C]
Monthly actuals, averages, and national standard values [B][C]

Interpretation of cusum charts

Pinpointing adverse changes
Validating a target
Proving savings
Quantifying the impact of past avoidable waste [C]

Spreadsheet tricks and tips

M&T-friendly data layouts
Regression analysis
False-colour raster plots for visualising fine-grained data
"Traffic-light" displays

All techniques will be demonstrated through worked examples and practical exercises, and spreadsheet examples are included on disc.

Prerequisites

Basic familiarity with Microsoft Excel will be useful but is not essential. Although the course includes some mathematics, the assumed level of prior knowledge corresponds to Key Stage 3 of the National Curriculum (typically taught at age 13).

Tutor

Vilnis Vesma MA CENG MINSTE has many years' continuous experience of designing, installing, supporting and operating energy monitoring and targeting schemes, and providing training for existing or potential users. This includes creating spreadsheet-based tools for energy management. He wrote a textbook on the subject (Managing Energy with a Desktop Computer, Energy Publications, 1987) and presented his first Energy Spreadsheet Masterclass in 1988. The organisations to which he has supplied M&T tools and know-how span a wide range of sectors including manufacturing industry as well as commercial and public sector organisations. He has written numerous articles on the subject. As well as authoring the government advice booklet Fuel Efficiency Booklet 13: Waste Avoidance Measures (1995), he is a specialist contributor on M&T to Croner's Energy Management and Gee Publishing's Energy Saver, and publishes the definitive guide to M&T techniques on the web. The UK's Action Energy programme has retained Mr Vesma as a strategic advisor on energy monitoring and targeting. He is registered to provide M&T advice under the Action Energy Detailed Survey scheme, and devised and co-presents Action Energy M&T workshops.

Typical feedback from past delegates

"The course opened up tremendous possibilities" - MM, Banbury
"The training was aimed at a very useful and practical level. I would certainly recommend your training courses" RW, Crawley
"Excellent demonstration software for own use" - RN, Magor
"Friendly, understandable seminar" - DN, Aylesbury
"I found the tutorial excellent. I found it amazing what could be produced/extracted from such basic [energy and weather] information" - AP, Edinburgh
"The presentation was excellent and Vilnis was able to get over some quite complicated ideas and concepts" - ES, Farnborough

Timetable

Delegates assemble for coffee at 10:45 and depart at 16:30. A restaurant lunch and refreshments are provided.

Fees

The fee for the class is Ł225 plus VAT

Orders should be sent to

Training Division
National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Service Ltd
Spinney Hill
Landmere Lane
Ruddington
Nottingham NG11 6ND

Enquiries can be addressed to the presenter (email vilnis.vesma@nifes.co.uk or call 01531 821350)