Accreditation ambitions
July 04th 2007

The value of the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme goes beyond an award and the public recognition that it brings; the Scheme’s structured approach provides an invaluable toolkit for energy management

Accreditation assessors don’t just audit the accreditation applicants, they work alongside them offering support and making recommendations to help organisations achieve the high standards of the Scheme. A mentoring programme means that even organisations not yet ready for the award can be guided in the right direction. The Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme has something to offer all organisations: those at the beginning of an energy management programme have something to strive for and those with well established energy management get public recognition for their achievements and a strategy for continuous improvement.

EEAS can help put energy efficiency in the boardroom

Working towards accreditation can help put energy policy considerations in the boardroom and can create opportunities for innovative energy efficiency projects. Walsall Council has used Energy Efficiency Accreditation as the backbone to support an ambitious vision for the eco-future of Walsall. Achieving accreditation is the culmination of three years work by energy manager Kwame Alex-Eyitene who has implemented a strong management structure for energy and is making huge strides towards reducing the Council's energy consumption.

Walsall aims to be greenest council

Achieving the accreditation award in December 2006 was a milestone for the council and the launch pad for a campaign designed to make Walsall the greenest council in the country by 2021. Achieving the award gave clear external validation to the work of the energy team and the programme of 3-yearly reaccreditation gives the impetus for year-on-year improvements and new projects. The Council have an ambitious target to reduce their energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 12.5% over the next 5 years using the Accreditation Scheme to keep track of their progress.To this end the Council has already invested in several energy efficiency projects including:

• 4 of the Borough’s Leisure Centres have been fitted with variable speed drives to air conditioning fans, heating and pool motors a project estimated to save around 217,000 kWh/year

• Rain water harvesting and solar hot water at the Aldridge Activity Centre

• Micro-CHP at the Rushall Mews Rehabilitation Centre

• Heat Plate Exchanger for the provision of hot water to the changing rooms at the Gala Swimming Baths.

Involving staff

Involving staff and encouraging them to be energy aware in the home and workplace is a key part of the agenda. Energy Champions have been recruited and a series of special events have been held to encourage the staff to buy-in to the energy efficiency project. Alex- Eyitene says “Environment matters to us all and this is Walsall Council beginning to put into place actions that will make a difference.We want to influence people so that everyone will play their part.” Staff have been encouraged to sign up to “pledge sheets” to promise a number of green resolutions in their everyday working lives going beyond energy efficiency into transport and recycling.“As community leaders, local authorities have a critical role in helping reduce damaging greenhouse gases and all of us at Walsall Council have our part in global action,” says Alex-Eyitene “and we see the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme as an integral part of our response to climate change”.