Saving energy the easy way

Thermographic surveys can detect heat loss

A new energy support package specifically designed to complement facilities management operations is now available from eriks. Saving energy has never been easier.

Today, there has never been greater emphasis on minimising energy consumption. Not only is there considerable legislative and ethical pressure to do so, in order to meet government environmental targets, but there is a powerful commercial argument in favour of it, too – power is expensive.

This means that facilities managers and Facilities Management (FM) companies are constantly looking for ways to reduce energy consumption and, consequently, reduce costs. There are a number of ways of doing this, and one of the most effective is to take advantage of a new and comprehensive support package specifically designed to complement facilities management operations.

There are a number of packages available using sophisticated energy surveys to identify problems such as un-lagged pipes, poorly fitted refrigerator doors and leaking compressed air lines. To do this, the company employs advanced techniques such as thermographics and ultrasonics. Thermographic surveys can detect heat loss both in the fabric of a building and in electro mechanical equipment itself, while ultrasonic inspection will locate problems such as costly air leaks from compressed air systems. Vibration analysis is used to identify excessive power consumption from both rotating and static equipment.

Following the survey, potential savings are calculated, helping facilities managers to identify priorities and determine the payback time on any capital expenditure they make. Advice about financing initiatives available through such bodies as the Carbon Trust can also be provided.

Thermography – how it works
Every object, however hot or cold, emits energy. The hotter it is, the more energy it emits. Special cameras can detect this energy and convert it to visible light, assigning a colour which is related to the intensity of energy it has detected. The result is a thermal ‘map’ which shows where – and how much – energy is being lost in a building or piece of equipment.

Ultrasonics – how it works
Ultrasound techniques generally sense sounds in the frequency range of 20kHz – 100kHz, which is beyond the human hearing range. These high frequencies are generated by a variety of air and gas leaks, worn bearings, and faulty electrical equipment, and can be detected and interpreted by skilled operators.