In order to save energy-efficient, sustainable, businesses need to recognize this is a process that has clear pathway from assessment of the current situation, choosing the right solution to the monitoring of continuous improvement. This article Lac Viet Computing will provide comprehensive information on the group solution energy saving is to be applied effectively, accompanying implementation guide step by step so that entrepreneurs can immediately apply in practice their activities.
1. Why saving energy is a priority for survival in the current period?
In the context of the global economy are under pressure from fluctuating fuel prices, inflation in input costs, the requirements increasingly strict carbon emissions, the energy was beyond the scope of the technique – it becomes a matter of survival strategy for every business.
In Vietnam, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, energy costs account for an average of 15 – 30% of the total operating costs of manufacturing enterprises. Each tranche adjustment of electricity prices, the price of gasoline or coal are pulled in directly affects the profitability and competitiveness. Meanwhile, the nation's imports are also the step by step development mechanism carbon tax border, meaning that products consume much energy in the production process can be taxed when exporting.
Don't stop there, many investors, financial institutions, international customers are priority cooperation with the business strategy, energy use efficiency, transparency has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This raises urgent requirement: business can not only focus on products that need active control optimizes energy right from the process of commissioning internal.
Energy saving is no longer an option “if possible” which is a lever to reduce costs, enhance performance, increase competitiveness in a market is strong shift towards green chemistry.
This article will help businesses understand the concept of solutions to save energy, what is the relationship between energy and carbon emissions, as well as how to get started implementing effective measurement clear.
2. Solution save what is energy? Understand the correct order to apply effective
2.1. The concept of solution energy saving
Solution energy saving is a set of measures designed to reduce energy consumption in the process of commissioning the manufacture, building or engineering system... but still ensure performance – quality output.
In other words, the goal of saving energy doesn't have to be “cut” machinery or reduced quality of service, which is to use energy in a smarter way – the right place at the right time, the right level needed.
The solution is usually classified into 3 main groups:
- Technical measures: equipment Upgrade old skills consume more power, improved lighting system, cooling, production. For example: an engine change, usually by motor inverter, use LED lights replace fluorescent light.
- Management measures: establish monitoring systems, power tracking, analyzing consumption data to detect points wasted. This is the basis to make decisions, improved logical. An example is applicable standards, energy management ISO 50001.
- Measures behavior: change the habit of using the energy of workers, such as turning off equipment when not in use, use the hourly high score – low score.
The most important point is the solution to this must be built based on the specific data to be able to measure the effect, avoid performed according to the sense or movement.
2.2. The link between energy saving, carbon management
Saving energy not only helps business reduce costs, but also contribute directly to the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions – elements is becoming a mandatory requirement in many professions.
Specifically, each kilowatt hour (kWh) electricity consumption are the emission amounts of CO₂ certain (depending on the source of national power). In Vietnam, according to the coefficient of the average emissions published by the Ministry of natural resources and the Environment, each kWh of electricity savings help reduce about 0.87 kg CO₂.
Thus, if a plant save 10,000 kWh/month, they not only reduced the cost of electricity, but also avoid the emission of nearly 9 tons of CO₂ per month – number can be recorded in the report, sustainable development or use to join the program credit carbon future.
2.3. Why businesses should start from the solution energy saving?
When it comes to converting green or carbon neutral, many businesses think big investments in solar power, electric vehicles or technology carbon capture. However, in fact the solution energy saving is the first step simple, least costly easy to measure to create the foundation for the strategy in more depth.
Reasons to start saving energy:
- Low cost, quick effect: Many technical improvements small or behavior change can discount 10 – 20% on energy bills without a major investment.
- Create the premise for management system emissions: The business want to build the system measure – report – verify (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions must start from the energy data.
- Increased competitiveness, access to capital, investment: investment funds, ESG or bank blue often requires business transparency about energy efficiency, this is the important criterion in evaluation.
In summary, energy-saving, not just a technical action, which is the strategic solutions that bring value, financial, environmental and brands for business in the long term.
You want to know where is the most appropriate solution with characteristics, industry scale, the current budget of your business?
3. 6 solutions for energy saving for modern business
3.1. Technology solutions: optimal device performance – operating system
One of the common causes leading to wasted energy in the enterprise is the use of the old equipment specifications, operating inefficiency, or has not yet been optimized design according to actual needs. Technology solutions is the first step the most important to the business control cuts energy consumption right from the root.
A number of technological energy saving typical can mention:
- Replace the old motor with inverter (inverter): Many plants is still used motor rotates at fixed speed regardless of the actual download. The mounting inverter allows to adjust speed flexibly according to the needs, helps reduce power consumption up to 20-30% in some applications such as water pump, industrial fans.
- Use LED bulbs replace fluorescent lamps or high pressure: This measure is simple, low investment costs, but bring efficiency markedly. LED lamps have a lifespan several times higher than reduce waste heat and power consumption, less than about 50%.
- Installation of air-conditioning system, inverter system, smart control: With offices, hotels and commercial center, air conditioning accounted for the majority of power consumption. Replacing the old system with air conditioning inverter in conjunction with the system automatically adjusts according to real-time (smart control) helps to maintain the temperature stable, power-saving, but still ensures comfortable for users.
Practical benefits for business: investing in technology not only saves the cost of electricity monthly, but also enhance the reliability of equipment and reduce the time production interruption due to damage at the same time reduce emissions CO₂ markedly. According to statistics from a factory in Long Hau industrial park, after replacing 80% of the engine system and lighting, they have dropped almost 22% of the electricity consumed within 6 months, equivalent to more than 200 million per year.
3.2. Solutions energy management (EMS)
“Can't manage what you can't measure” – this principle is especially true with energy. Many businesses may have invested in modern equipment, but has not yet reached as effective as expected, the cause is the lack of a management system, energy basically.
Solutions energy management (Energy Management System – EMS) is not only software which is a system that includes people, process and technical tools to help businesses track, analyze, improve the use of energy in a systematic way.
A system EMS usually effective include:
- Monitor the power in real time: The metering equipment is installed at the point of consumption (such as machinery main production area, the HVAC system) helps businesses know the exact energy consumption in each region, each point of time.
- Set the energy consumption for each department: From the data collected business can build standard consumption, detect where any excess will handle soon.
- Applicable standards ISO 50001: With those businesses that want to standardize processes, energy management, ISO 50001 is a standard frame international help to establish energy policy, performance reviews, continual improvement.
Enterprise value received: deploy EMS to help businesses move from engineering to management based on the data, from which a decision right place, right time. In addition to saving power, businesses also easily report service, energy audit, preparing for the requirements on emissions in the future. More importantly, this is the platform to build the strategy of low-carbon, help businesses have not been touched by the change of market and policy.
3.3. Solution behavior: awareness change your habits of energy use
Many businesses have invested in modern equipment, deployment, monitoring energy, but the effect is still not as expected. A cause is often overlooked is the behavior and habits of use of human energy.
A device even save up to now, but if turned on even when not in use, operating the wrong way or do not get regular maintenance, then consumption will still be very high. So, change users ' behaviors, is the solution to save energy the least expensive but effective against most sustainable if done right.
Behavioral measures can deploy include:
- Organize internal training on energy use efficiency: Employees, departments, especially the direct operating machinery should be equipped with basic knowledge on how to use equipment savings, avoiding waste.
- Labeled reminds table energy information: warning stickers “turn Off when not in use” proximity switches, or display the amount of electricity consumed each area by day – help to create visual perception.
- The main building recommended books – discipline reasonable: A number of business apply emulation program save power between the departments and there are rewards every month. Conversely, if exceeds the consumption, not reasonable, it can measure a specific reminder.
Lessons from the Japanese – model of “cultural power”: In many Japanese companies, energy-saving, not only is a request from leadership that have become a part organizational culture. Staff actively turn off the device, use natural light maximum reported if detected points consumption abnormal. The spirit of this is background to the technology solution or management to maximize efficiency.
Long-term benefits for business: Solution behavior help change the perception from the roots, creating consensus across the organization. When each individual act together, the business will not only save energy but also to build an internal culture to actively contribute to the retention of personnel, enhance brand reputation.
3.4. Solution number of apps, artificial intelligence (AI)
The collected data analysis is no longer the prerogative of large corporations that are becoming core elements to help businesses at every scale optimal energy efficiency. The number of operational energy consumption enables enterprises to understand the “hot spots” waste to make decisions, improved, more accurate, instead of just based on feelings.
The common applications of digitization and AI in energy savings include:
- Platform, data analysis, energy (BI dashboards): data connection from the power meter, and sensor monitoring device into an intuitive interface helps managers can track the amount of electricity consumption by region, time, or specific equipment. Thanks to it, the easy detection area consuming anomaly, or ineffective.
- Forecast energy demand: artificial intelligence can analyze the model operated in the past, from that forecast consumption in the near future, help with business plan production accordingly to avoid excess or energy use at the time of high prices.
- Optimal operating in real time: some businesses have applied AI to automatically adjust the device performance under realistic loading, for example, reduce speed pump or air conditioning during hours of low point, or when there are no users.
Enterprise value get: According to research by McKinsey, the business deployment of digital and AI in energy management can reduce from 20 – 30% of electricity consumption in the first two years. Not only save operating costs, this solution also helps businesses build platform strong data, ready for the reported emissions management, sustainable development after this.
3.5. Investment solutions green: Installation of renewable energy combined consumption monitoring
In strategies energy-saving long-term, the combined use of renewable energy monitoring system power consumption is an effective medium to help businesses to reduce dependence on the national grid, proactive control medium optimal energy use.
Some form of green investments downloads:
- System installation, electric sun roof: With these business have factory, office, large area, here is the solution reasonable investment. Electricity generated from solar energy can be used directly or air-mesh, which helps reduce electricity bills during peak hours.
- System integration, energy storage and smart controller: This is a further step to help businesses not only produce electricity but also can store power distribution efficiency, in accordance with the actual demand.
- In conjunction with the system monitoring energy consumption: Mount indicators for measuring savings kWh and the amount of CO₂ avoid emissions in real-time from that clearly demonstrate effective investment.
Practical benefits for business: investing in renewable energy to help businesses reduce the cost of long term protection from fluctuations in the price of electricity, expressed commitment to sustainable development. In addition, enterprises can participate in the program, financial aid or credits carbon, expanding the opportunity to access investment funds, green and abroad.
3.6. Measurement solutions energy audit: facility to improve compliance with standard
One of the key points to improve energy efficiency is the ability to measure accurate and comprehensive assessment system energy consumption. This is why energy audit – understand simply “the periodic health examination for energy system” – has increasingly become a mandatory requirement for many businesses.
Activity measure energy audit include:
- Reviews overall system energy use: Determine the area consumption, the level of efficiency of the equipment, distribution systems, and commissioning.
- Analysis of the difference between consumption ideal – reality: From that detect those areas, potential waste or need improvement.
- Proposed solutions to save energy according to the priority and investment capacity.
- Build process measurement – record – verification (MRV): This is the foundation for business execution report greenhouse gas emissions or market participants credits carbon future.
Specific benefits:
- Increase the ability to control transparency about energy.
- Reduce legal risk when the policy of mandatory audit is widely applied.
- Is step-premise to reach environmental certification such as ISO 50001, ISO 14001 or standard ESG from investors.
Under current regulations, many manufacturing enterprises have energy consumption exceeding the threshold to perform the audit periodically. Instead of viewing this is the cost of compliance, the business should be considered here is the opportunity to re-structure the energy system and the optimal operating on the basis of scientific data transparency can be measured.
4. The roadmap for a solution to save energy for business
The energy savings to achieve the real effect should be deployed according to a roadmap, it does not have to perform discrete or according to movement. A clear plan based on data and practices operate will help businesses control costs, optimize the system to improve their competitiveness in the long term.
Here are 4 steps core that every business can apply, regardless of size or industry.
Step 1: assess current status and collect consumption data
This is the platform to understand business are energy consumption, how, where is going to waste, what level?
Business need done:
- General electric bills – water – fuel for at least 6-12 months to determine the trends in consumption.
- Revise the whole system devices consume much energy: motors, air compressors, lighting systems, air conditioning...
- Collect data from the gauges, dashboard, diary operate. If there is not tracking system, should consider the installation of monitoring equipment, power at the point of consumption as big as factory or central air conditioning.
Enterprise value received: the assessment was to help businesses clearly see the blind spots in energy consumption – from that switch from “guess” to “understand”. This is a mandatory condition to the next step (analysis and optimal) really have grounds, instead of according to the sense.
Step 2: analyze data to identify areas waste energy
When there was data, the next is to turn data into valuable information. Proper analysis will help businesses answer the important questions: which parts are consuming too much energy? What time consumption spike? Have equipment for any unusual activity?
How to implement:
- Use of common tools such as Excel advanced Power BI or software power management specialized to visualise data analysis.
- Compare actual consumption with the ideal levels, thereby identifying areas that need improvement.
- Classification priority level according to the criteria: consumption, cost improvements, the impact to production.
Illustrative example: A business may wear after analyzing data from measurement system has detected that the system of industrial dust running 24/24 without adjusting according to the working time, wasting more than 15% of electricity each month. Thanks to that, they adjust the operating mode to save more than 200 million per year.
Step 3: plan the solution chosen in accordance with budget
After you have identified the points that need improvement, enterprises need to establish a plan of action to the fact, in accordance with existing resources.
Proposed guidelines:
- Preferred solution for low cost – high efficiency: such As changing light bulbs, LED mode settings timer for equipment, training personnel off the machine at the right time.
- Combined parallel solution short term/long term: Solution behavior (training, internal communications) can implement immediately, while technology solutions (upgraded machines, digitizing system) should plan to invest gradually according to the schedule.
- Identify savings goals specific: For example, a 10% reduction in power consumption in 6 months, or up 5 tons of CO₂ per year.
Enterprise value received: having a clear plan helps leaders easily allocate proper budget, risk management, progress tracking, while ensuring the entire organization to understand consensus with common goals.
Step 4: implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement
Any system if not maintained monitoring also will gradually lose efficiency. Therefore, after deployment solution business need to continue monitoring for ready adjustment update when needed.
Content should be made:
- Set up the evaluation index (KPI): such as power consumption per unit of product, the cost of energy on the total operating costs...
- Construction chart tracking consumed daily/weekly/monthly, can be integrated on system visualization (dashboard).
- Periodically reviewing the effectiveness of each solution, technology updates, new or adjusted when production conditions change.
- Organization of the internal evaluation report periodically, can be combined with reporting sustainability or ESG if the business is pursuing this standard.
Saving energy not only helps business reduce costs, instant, which also opens up many long-term value: from reducing carbon emissions, enhance competitiveness to enhance the accessibility of international standards such as ESG, ISO 50001 or market credits carbon future. More importantly, when businesses know how to use energy efficiently, it is a thinking management initiative, transparency towards sustainable development.
Whether you're operating a factory, a chain of a retail store or an office building, starting from the solution energy saving, simple but has the database will obviously be the right step easy to implement.
