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Document Sample
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
Conservation Guide
Issued as an annex to the
“Environmental Policy”,
October 2007.
Ownership: Corporate Services
Date Issued: October 2007
Date Last Modified September 2009
Table of Contents
Contents Page No.
1 About The Energy Conservation Guide 3
2 Introduction 4
2.1 Scope 4
3 Water 5
3.1 Taps 5
3.2 Routine checks 5
3.3 Toilets and washrooms 5
3.4 Kitchen areas 5
3.5 General 6
4 Heating and lighting 6
4.1 General 6
4.2 Doors and windows 7
4.3 Central heating and heaters 7
4.4 Lights and light switches 8
5 Other energy-using appliances 9
5.1 PCs and peripherals 9
5.2 General 10
6 General 11
6.1 Promoting awareness 11
6.2 Considering other factors 11
1 About The Energy Conservation Guide
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority’s Environmental Policy details the
Authority’s responsibility to protect the community we serve, and to nurture the
natural environment of our region. These issues have never been as important as
they are today, nor have they ever had such a notable public profile: the
Government’s Climate Change Bill was outlined in the Queen’s Speech in 2006; the
Government has clearly stated that local authorities and their partners are at the
forefront of the fight to reduce carbon emissions.
By promoting our policy throughout the organisation, we aim to encourage
environmentally-sound activity, and also to minimise wasteful and damaging
practices.
Of course, one of the benefits to us in introducing this policy is that operating in a
more environmentally-friendly way can often mean operating more cost-effectively –
saving energy means saving money. We can then make better use of our resources
to help the people in West Yorkshire to lead safer lives. This will help us to serve the
public better in line with our ambition of “Making West Yorkshire Safer” and our aim
to: “Provide an excellent Fire and Rescue Service working in partnership to reduce
death, injury, economic loss and contribute to community wellbeing.”
In the Environmental Policy, we committed to producing a guide on Energy
Conservation, to act as a guide for good practice throughout the organisation.
The guide includes a list of simple and practical steps to provide savings in four
areas:
· Water
· Heating and lighting
· Other energy-using appliances
· General
Future versions of the guide will be expanded to look at other areas, such as Waste
disposal and Transport.
It is intended that this guide will be implemented by all personnel at their workplace to
support effective use of resources.
I hope you find the guide useful, and that you are able to follow the measures
described here. Of course, hints and tips in this guide are not exhaustive. You may
have an idea which you think might save energy, or may already be doing something
which you think other areas of the Authority could follow. If this is the case, please
use the Authority Suggestion Scheme to let us know about your idea. All original
suggestions, whether adopted or not, will receive a standard award in appreciation of
the interest shown.
Details of the suggestion scheme are available on the Authority’s website at
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk
3
http://SuggestionSchemePolicy.pdf. We will communicate all good energy saving
tips throughout the organisation.
2 Introduction
The intention in issuing the Energy Conservation Guide is to limit the negative impact
the Authority has on the environment, and to achieve efficiency savings. Across the
Authority, there are many different kinds of ‘workplace’ – and these simple ideas will
not be able to be implemented in every setting. Where they can be introduced,
however, they should have no impact upon the effectiveness or the working
conditions of colleagues.
Indeed, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that the more energy-efficient a
workplace is, the more comfortable and productive it is.
2.1 Scope
The scope of this guide is not limited; due consideration is given to any policy,
practice, procedure or habit which can save on energy in any way. The guide has
focused particularly on four particular areas with the potential for great impact and
measurable improvement:
· Water
· Heating and lighting
· Other energy-using appliances
· General
The intention is that these measures can be implemented in the workplace
immediately, or with very little planning and with very little cost. Yet by contrast,
organisations which have adopted these practices have observed very significant
savings in energy costs.
Energy use is the responsibility of every individual, and it is the Authority’s intention
to ensure all staff are aware and can fulfil that responsibility.
There are other environmental issues, covered by the Environmental Policy, which
require more investment and more planning. These are issues such as the design of
new buildings, and the long-term analysis of the benefits of renewable energy
sources such as wind and solar power. These issues fall outside the scope of this
guide.
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk
4
3 Water
3.1 Taps
Only ever use the amount of water you need. For example,
do not leave taps running, and avoid overfilling kettles.
Report dripping or leaking taps and fittings such as valves and
joints to the Property Management department at Fire Service
Headquarters (FSHQ).
Use water from the cold tap wherever possible, and be
particularly cautious about using hot water. Any waste of hot
water is particularly expensive: it wastes the energy that was
required to heat it.
3.2 Routine checks
Develop a plan of weekly checks; make sure there are no
leaks under sinks; also check for damp patches on walls,
ceilings and outside areas – leaks on pipes can be costly.
Read the water meter and compare weekly usage – if it ever
increases significantly, investigate it and / or report it.
3.3 Toilets and washrooms
Ensure any automatic flushing devices on urinals are
triggered only when someone is present – this is best
achieved by passive infra-red person detectors.
Check to see if water saving devices are fitted in toilet
cisterns; if they are not, contact the property management
department to discuss this matter. These devices can often
save water when flushing.
3.4 Kitchen areas
Consider areas where used water could be recycled – for
instance, could water in a washing-up bowl be used for a
second purpose?
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk
5
Keep areas where water is used tidy: provide bins in areas
near sinks and toilets to prevent general refuse being flushed
down toilets or washed down sinks.
Always use drinking water from an appropriate supply – but
fill bottles to keep in the fridge, so that you do not waste tap
water when getting a drink.
3.5 General
Make sure pipes and tanks are insulated; if they are not
then report them to the Property Management department at
FSHQ.
4 Heating and lighting
4.1 General
As a rule of thumb, the optimal temperature for an office
should be between 19°c and 21°c Celsius. Depending on the
general climate, it may vary reasonably between 18°c and
25°c Celsius. Make sure your workplace has a thermometer,
and try to ensure temperatures stay within these ranges.
If the temperature of the workplace is too cool or too warm,
and cannot be rectified through adjusting radiators locally etc,
then see if overall thermostatic controls can be adjusted. If
this is not possible, or there are significant other problems,
then contact the Property Management department at FSHQ.
Often, if the temperature of workplace is unsuitable, it is
because systems such as central heating and air conditioning
are inefficient, sometimes working against each other.
Dress according to the temperature of your workplace.
Wearing warmer clothing in winter, rather than turning the
heating up, can lead to significant savings in energy.
If you find it necessary to use heating systems and air-
conditioning at the same time in close proximity to one
another, then report it to the Property Management
department. If one side of a room is cool and the other warm,
there is almost certainly room for improvement.
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk
6
Report faulty fittings to the Property Management department
at FSHQ.
Carefully consider where electrical equipment is placed; most
equipment generates heat, and placing lots of equipment
together can mean that a workplace is uncomfortably warm.
This can mean colleagues performing sub-optimally and / or
air conditioning being employed to combat excessive heat.
Similarly, try to put appliances in places where they will have
the least ‘work’ to do: a fridge, used for cooling, should not be
too close to a cooker, nor near to the heat of direct sunlight.
Also, to make sure equipment has the best chance of working
safely and efficiently, make sure doors on cookers, fridges
and the like are shut for as much of the time as possible.
Remember throughout to respect the different needs and
preferences of all colleagues. Ask their permission to take
action – and use it as an opportunity to mention the
Environmental Policy.
4.2 Doors and windows
It may be necessary for security reasons to ensure doors and
windows are closed, but try to use them wisely, especially
during the day – open doors and windows in summer to cool
down, close them in winter to keep warm air in. Do not stand
in doorways to hold conversations – and if a door has to be
wedged open for the smooth transit of bulky goods, make
sure the door is firmly shut afterwards.
To ensure that the maximum benefits are achieved, make
sure all windows and light fittings are clean.
If windows or doors are old or are in poor condition, creating
unwanted draughts and breezes, report them to the Property
Management department at FSHQ.
4.3 Central heating and heaters
Think about the coverage of the heating – if only a small part
of a building or room needs to be heated, this is the
opportunity to use a smaller, electric heater, rather than the
central heating system.
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk
7
If you think aspects of a building’s heating system are
becoming inefficient over time, ask the Property
Management department at Fire Service Headquarters
(FSHQ) if the system or its parts can be serviced or replaced.
Particularly, try to make sure that systems are working well
through the autumn, ready for winter. Let Property
Management know if you think, for example, that a boiler or
heater needs to be replaced with a more modern, energy-
efficient model.
4.4 Lights and light switches
Find out which light switch operates which light(s), and keep
a record of this – either by making plans, or labeling the
switches.
Use the plan or labels to make sure you only use the lights
in areas where people are ‘active’ – places where they need
them because they are working or meeting, not places
where they are going to be meeting or working. Use a
single bulb lamp rather than strip lighting if only part of a
room needs to be lit.
Take advantage of natural light wherever possible: people
often prefer daylight to artificial light anyway, and this can
work well near windows. Remember, as stated above, to
make sure all windows are clean.
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk
8
Check throughout the day to see if lights which are on are
still needed – sometimes, lights only benefit the workplace
at the beginning and the end of the day. One of the best
ways to get into the habit of checking is to turn the light off
every time you are the last person to leave an office or
meeting room.
Only leave the light on if you are certain of your intention to
return within a couple of minutes.
Where blinds have been used for security at night, open
them in the morning. It could be that the natural light
provides all the light which is required.
Make sure strip lights, and fittings such as shades are clean
– sometimes fewer lights can be used if the lights and their
fittings are clean.
If lighting is required for security purposes, consider whether
it is possible to work with sensors to ensure the lights are
not permanently on, and never on where daylight prevails.
5 Other energy-using appliances
There is a system in place for the inspection of all electrical equipment, both
operational and non-operational. Non-operational portable equipment is checked by
contractors on an annual basis – if you have any appliances which have not been
checked, or you are unsure, please contact the Technical Section at FSHQ.
5.1 PCs and peripherals
If a PC is not going to be in use for more than an hour, turn it
off. If it is going to be out of use for a shorter time (eg at
lunchtime, or a brief meeting), see if the monitor can be
turned off.
Always shut down PCs at the end of the day.
When purchasing peripherals – such as scanners and
printers - try and get energy usage details, and take these
into account when making your decision. This rationale
should be extended to other electrical equipment, too. (See
the ‘General’ section 3.2.)
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk
9
Do not leave electrical appliances on standby; if possible,
turn them off at the socket when they are not in use and turn
them back on only when they are about to be used again.
Devices such as photocopiers, scanners and printers
sometimes go unused for a full working day, but are almost
always switched on in expectation. Consider if there are any
appliances which could be turned on and off using timers.
When printing, try to use less paper. This will use less
energy, and also less paper. Consider: do you really need
to print something off? Has someone else in your workplace
already made a printed copy and could you share? If you
really need a copy of your own, could you print it double-
sided? Would you need to print the whole document or just a
brief extract of it? If you cannot print it double sided, could
you use the ‘two-pages-on-one’ setting?
5.2 General
Ensure any ventilation devices are only triggered by people –
this is best achieved by passive infra-red person detectors.
Do not leave appliances charging unnecessarily. Read the
instructions for an appliance carefully to find out how long
items need to be put on to charge, and disconnect them once
they have been fully charged.
When purchasing other electrical equipment – for example,
‘white goods’ such as fridges, microwaves and washing
machines – use the same rationale as for peripheral computer
devices (see above); try to get energy usage details, and take
these into account when making your decision.
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk
10
6 General
6.1 Promoting awareness
The single most important aspect of this policy is to make sure
everyone is aware of it. Some of the practices listed here
require all colleagues in any one workplace to be equally
aware of the policy. One person trying alone to achieve some
of the objectives will be counterproductive and may cause
conflict.
6.2 Considering other factors
Remember at all times, when seeking to make energy
savings, to observe the following points:
• Respect your colleagues - ask someone’s permission if
they are likely to be affected by the action you take.
• Observe legislation: take care to heed health and
safety guidance, water byelaws and other legislation,
regulation and advice.
• Report equipment which is faulty or due for
replacement…but remember, whilst Property
Management can help to resolve problems and
potential issues, the first priority is for all colleagues to
develop the habit of turning off equipment and lights
which are not in use.
• Remember, do not expect each minor defect to be
repaired immediately - the Authority can also conserve
energy by sensibly planning repairs and improvements.
• Read all the utility meters and compare weekly usage –
if usage of gas, electricity or water ever increases
significantly, investigate it and / or report it.
If you have a good idea on how to save energy, please share
it.
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk
11
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
Oakroyd Hall
Birkenshaw
BD11 2DY
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk
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