Sustainable development in Defra - Part E: Energy
Introduction
Target E1 - Reduction of absolute carbon
Target E2 - Increase in Energy Efficiency of buildings
Target E3 - Purchase of Electricity from renewable sources
Targets E4 - Use of CHP
Target E5 - Long Term Strategy for renewable energy
Target E6 - Carbon Emission reduction clauses in Estate Management
contracts
Responsibilities
Within Defra the chain of responsibility for delivering the targets in Part C of the Framework is:
- Ben Bradshaw - Sustainable Development Minister
- Helen Ghosh - Permanent Secretary
- Andrew Burchell - DG Chief Operating Officer
- Francesca Okosi - Director of Human Resources & Corporate Services
The Chief Executives of the nine agencies attached to Defra:
- Mark Farrar - Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
- Professor Michael Roberts - Central Science Laboratory (CSL)
- Robert Bettley-Smith - Government Decontamination Service (GDS) Nigel
- Gooding - Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA)
- Dr Kerr Wilson - Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD)
- Tony Cooper (interim) - Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
- Glenys Stacey - State Veterinary Service (SVS)
- Professor Steven Edwards - Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA)
- Steven Dean - Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)
Data collection systems
Data on Energy consumption was collected as shown below:
- 1999/00 - 73 Core Defra and 29 Laboratory sites
- 2000/01 - 73 Core Defra and 26 Laboratory sites
- 2001/02 - 83 Core Defra and 28 Laboratory sites
- 2002/03 (1) - 81 Core Defra, 11 RPA and 26Laboratory sites in
- 2003/04 - 92 Core Defra, 11 RPA and 27 Laboratory sites
- 2004/05 (2) - 93 Core Defra, 14 RPA and 27 Laboratory sites
(1) - The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) was created in 2001/02 from the Intervention Board (a non-departmental body) plus some ex-MAFF functions as a Executive Agency. AS full year data was not available for 2001/02 the base year used is 2002/03 for this agency. All other Executive Agencies are included within the Laboratory Estate.
(2) This represents 64% of sites and over 90% of staff.
These are sites for which Defra or its agencies are sole or major occupier, and therefore those for which we are responsible for paying energy charges.
Bills are based on metered charges, but we also operate a regular meter reading and monitoring procedure through Facilities Managers based on site.Information on consumption at these sites is held on a TEAM database, which enables recovery and manipulation of the data, for example to produce feedback to staff on performance.
The TEAM Database is also used to provide energy assessments for sites by the creation of site specific benchmarking comparing site typical performance with actual performance to highlight sites which should be targeted for further investigation
Baseline performance data
Baseline data used in this report is for the year 1999/2000.
1999/2000
- For 73 Core Defra offices, the total energy consumption amounted to 38,336,000 kWh (weather corrected). This converted to 3,152,200kgC, which equated to 16.0 kilograms of carbon (kgC) per M2 across the Defra Office Estate on a total area of 192,650M2.
- For 11 RPA offices (base year 2002/03), the total energy consumption amounted to 14,244,500 kWh (weather corrected). This converted to 1,252,300kgC, which equated to 34 kilograms of carbon (kgC) per M2 across the RPA Estate on a total area of 36,570M2.
- For 29 Laboratories the total energy consumption amounted to 91,742,000kWh (weather corrected). This converted to 6,986,400kgC, which in turn equated to 44kgC per M2 across the Laboratory Estate on a total area of 172,500M2.
2004/2005
- For 93 Core Defra offices, the total energy consumption amounted to 36,850,000kWh (weather corrected). This converted to 3,137,300kgC, which equated to 17kgC per M2 across the Defra Office Estate on a total area of 181,150M2.
- For 14 RPA Offices the total energy consumption amounted to 13,895,000kWh (weather corrected). This converted to 1,243,500kgC which equated to 29.0kgC per M2 across the RPA Estate of 42,650M2
- For 27 Laboratories the total energy consumption amounted to 91,900,000kWh (weather corrected). This converted to 7,351,400kgC which in turn equated to 46kgC per M2 across the Laboratory Estate on a total area of 158,714M2.
Mechanisms to be used to improve performance
Energy consumption at all sites is monitored on a regular basis and compared with appropriate benchmarks to identify increases. Any unexplained change is investigated with local utility managers and facility managers. Unusual consumption levels and metering problems are taken up with suppliers and appropriate efficiency measures are put in place to deal with other causes of high consumption.
Defra has entered into a Carbon Management Programme with the Carbon Trust during 2005/2006. It is anticipated that significant reductions will be made in our buildings-related carbon emissions in the long term.
Resources required
We aim to access energy monitoring through the Carbon Trust and TEAM whenever possible, but anticipate that we may need to commission about 8 audits at a cost of £250 each in 2005/2006 and 2006/2007(total cost £2k in each year).
After applying the no-cost and low-cost measures, we estimate that further works to the value of £50K will be needed in each of these two years to reduce kgC emissions below the 1999/2000 base year level. There are also resource costs arising from additional monitoring by facilities managers.
Milestones & review dates
Monitoring of consumption on a quarterly basis during2003/04 and 2004/2005 helped to establish the extent that the Machinery of Government changes affected consumption. This information was reviewed and the highest using sites will be subject to surveys by April 2006. Local efficiency campaigns are on-going in sites where Defra is major occupant.
Milestone Targets:-
(based on 2003-04 performance)
2006-07 9% reduction in carbon emissions
2008-09 15% reduction in carbon emissions
2010-11 21% reduction in carbon emissions
Targets
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Target E1 - Reduction of absolute carbon |
|
E1 - Government Departments to reduce absolute
carbon, from fuel and electricity used in buildings on their estate,
by 12.5 per cent by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000.
|
Defra response - Target E1 - Reduction of Absolute Carbon
The total amount of Absolute Carbon produced by the core Defra sites during the year 2004/05 amounted to some 3,137,300kgC for the office estate compared to 3,082,200kgC in the previous year (an increase of 1.7%). This is virtually unchanged from the base year despite an increase of 6% in floor area.
Absolute Carbon produced by the RPA Estate during the year 2004/05 amounted to some 1,243,500kgC compared to 1,121,800 in the previous year (an increase of 10%). This is, however still some 1% below the base year despite an increase of 17% in floor area.
Absolute Carbon emitted by Defra laboratories in 2004/05 amounted to some 7,351,400kgC compared to 7,683,800kgC in 2003-04 (a reduction of 4%). This is however 5.2% above the base year.
We have identified a number of areas in which further investigation can be carried out and energy saving projects put in place, for example to ensure that where possible all equipment conforms to A or B energy efficiency ratings. In addition, following on from work with the Carbon Trust we are working with local managers to implement an "Energy Efficiency Toolkit".
The efficiency of these will be monitored by the use of monthly benchmarking data for the larger sites (over 500m).
|
Target E2 - Increase in Energy Efficiency of buildings |
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E2 - Government Departments to increase the energy efficiency of the buildings on their estate, measured in terms of kWh of (1) fuel and (2) electricity use per square metre of buildings floor area, or estate area*, by 15 per cent by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000. *Due to the diversity of the Government Estate, Departments can report using either the floor area of their buildings, or the total estate area. |
Defra response - Target E2 - Increase in Energy Efficiency of Buildings
The larger buildings on the Defra Estate are already subject to site specific benchmarking in accordance with procedures set out in Action Energy Guides 286 "Energy use in the Government Civil Estate" and 83 "Energy use in Government Laboratories". These enable us to monitor the causes of any significant changes. All new building and major refurbishment projects are automatically subject to energy efficiency measures and BREEAM ratings.
Both Target E1 (above) and this (E2) are also incorporated into our Environmental Management System and form part of the EMS objectives and targets for each site.
|
Target E3 - Purchase of Electricity from renewable sources |
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E3 - Government Departments to source at least 10 per cent electricity from renewable sources by 31 March 2008*. This will be measured by kilowatt hours for:
* Given the very large scale of the MoD Estate it has been agreed that the MoD should achieve this target by 2010. |
Defra response - Target E3 - Purchase of Electricity from renewable sources
For a number of years Defra has increased, year on year the amount of renewable energy it purchases.
Core Defra Office Estate
| 2000-01 - |
941,157 kWh |
(6% of total) |
| 2001-02 - | 4,734,269 kWh | (22% of total) |
| 2002-03 - | 9,585,885 kWh | (56% of total) |
| 2003-04 - | 12,823,948 kWh | (77% of total) |
| 2004-05 - | 14,371,130kWh | (83% of total) |
RPA Estate
| 2002-03 - | 1,268,098 kWh | (17% of total) |
| 2003-04 - | 5,204,001kWh | (77% of total) |
| 2004-05 | 5,883,457kWh | (77% of total |
Laboratory Estate
| 2000-01 - |
0 |
|
| 2001-02 - | 4,324,243kWh | (12% of total) |
| 2002-03 - | 10,072,990kWh | (29% of total) |
| 2003-04 - | 11,327,314kWh | (32% of total) |
| 2004-05 - | 11,430,555kWh | (32% of total) |
We will continue to review the procurement of renewable energy each occasion that contracts are subject to renewal and subject to availability and reasonable cost continue to purchase renewable energy.
Other sources of renewable energy in use at Defra sites include Solar Water Heating at the Bury St Edmunds Animal Health Office. During 2004/05 this produced some 44,200kWh of energy. A woodchip burner system was also installed at the Worcester Animal Health Office during 2004/05. Photovoltaic and solar cells provide in excess of 10% of the energy requirements of the Mills Building that was completed at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency at Weybridge during 2005/06.
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Target E4 - Use of CHP |
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E4 - Government Departments to source at least 15 per cent of electricity from Good Quality Combined Heat and Power by 2010. (Allowances will be made for those Departments that already purchase 100 per cent renewable energy.) |
Defra response - Target E4 - Use of CHP
Defra already operates one CHP system at its Weybridge site. This system produces some 7,770,000 kWh of electricity per annum - equal to 21% of total consumption.
For all major refurbishment and rebuilding projects we are giving active consideration to the inclusion of CHP systems. A project is underway to install a CHP at the Nobel House site in London and one laboratory is being considered for a CHP system.
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Target E5 - Long Term Strategy for renewable energy |
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E5 - By March 2006 Government will develop a long-term strategy, up to 2020, for sourcing renewable energy on the Government Estate. |
Defra response - Target E5 - Long Term Strategy for renewable energy
Defra will await the outcome of this strategy.|
Target E6 - Carbon Emission reduction clauses in Estate Management contracts. |
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E6 - Departments to include clauses to ensure opportunities are identified and measures taken for reducing carbon emissions and collecting energy data (by fuel type), as far as practical, in all estate management contracts* initiated from August 2004. *This should include partnership contracts (such as Public Private Partnerships and Private Finance Initiatives). |
Defra response - Target E6 - Carbon Emission reduction clauses in Estate Management contracts
All major Estate Management and Facility Mangement contracts include clauses to ensure opportunities are identified and measures taken for reducing carbon emissions and collecting energy data (by fuel type).
We will continue this policy for all future contracts.
Page last modified: 28 July 2006
Page published: 12 August 2004