Member Article

Industry leaders gather for energy efficiency launch

Council leaders, stakeholders and leading figures from within the renewable energy sector are to gather in Devon for the launch of a UK first in energy efficiency.

Mid Devon District Council is the first organisation in the country to tackle its energy usage by undertaking a fully funded, multi-site and multi-measure ‘ESCO’. The innovative ESCO model works by examining current energy usage before producing a report into the combination of energy efficiency measures and upgrades that could be made to bring the greatest benefit. The measures are then installed at no upfront cost, through an investor-backed funding route.

As part of the ESCO, Mid Devon Council has had works completed in five of its corporate buildings and is in line to save up to a third on its annual energy expenditure, while saving over 690 tonnes of carbon per year.

Following completion of the project, a launch event is to be held on 7 June at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre in Crediton. It is being co-hosted by Mid Devon Council and national energy efficiency solutions provider, Anesco, who managed the project.

Adrian Pike, CEO of Anesco, explains “The completion of the ESCO model in Mid Devon is paving the way for other councils and organisations looking to tackle their growing energy costs and emissions.

“The beauty of the model is that it offers councils, businesses and other organisations a way to install efficiency measures at no upfront cost. It generates both instant and long term benefits and at the end of the agreement, organisations will also be left with a more efficient building stock.”

The upgrades at Mid Devon are being provided by energy services company Anesco Energy Services (South) Ltd (AESSL) and come at no upfront cost to the council. The cost will be recouped by AESSL both through sharing a percentage of the savings generated on energy bills and through the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. The agreement will run for 12 years, after which time the council will receive the full benefit of the energy savings generated.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anesco Limited .