Carbon and Energy Data Analytics

What is Data Analytics, and why is it Important?

Data analytics involves the collecting, analysing, and interpreting of data relating to carbon emission and energy usage for an organisation. To improve energy usage, and ultimately make commercial savings it is imperative that the starting point of the organisation is established. This benchmark can then be referenced in future years to show performance improvements to internal and external stakeholders and gain a competitive advantage within the market.

Data analysis highlights the areas where improvements can be made, the capital required for these, and the expected cost savings of each improvement, allowing organisations to make informed decisions and prioritise investments.

The Benefits of Data Analytics

Reliable data analysis assists with highlighting any missing or erroneous data, and GEP Environmental can verify the accuracy and reliability of data used. The results are often a catalyst for driving strategic change within an organisation to improve operational and cost performance, including through sustainability reviews, corporate governance development, and stakeholder engagement.

How can GEP Environmental help you?

With sophisticated toolkits that have been developed in-house through years of experience we can provide comprehensive carbon and energy data analysis. The Energy Data Analysis Tool (EDAT) provides detailed interrogation of half hourly data and correlates it with the building occupancy levels. This enables energy wastage to be identified, and more importantly quantified to accurately provide savings associated with minimizing energy waste.

From analysis of energy use trends, this allows a much more informed approach, where information, when correlated with how buildings are being controlled, enables organisations to internally monitor their buildings performance, and set targets for the improvements of future operational activities.

Examples of the types of analysis GEP Environmental undertake are:

• Degree day versus heating fuel consumption regression analysis
• Consumption trend analysis
• Assessing where consumption data gaps /anomalies are present
• Benchmarking building energy use (kWh per m² floor area) and comparing against standard benchmark values

All reports will provide the interpretation of the results of the data analysis, rather than just providing the raw data itself. We find the data has limited meaning to many organisations, and as such are able to present our findings in the preferred terms of our client, be that in Kilowatt-hour (kWh), monetary value (£) or emission levels (tonnes CO_²).

Benefits of using GEP Environmental

• The data analysis and project engineers’ involvement enable GEP Environmental to provide guidance for both the cause of waste and remedial actions (e.g. incorrect time setting for a heating control system)
• Data can be used to meet legal requirements (e.g. SECR)
• Data and recommendations can be included in annual reports and communicated to stakeholders
• Organisations are empowered to make decisions based on the analysis of reliable data
• A competitive advantage can be gained through implementing strategic improvement plans, both financially and operationally
• Policies and procedures can be developed against new energy conservation measures
• Data analysis can highlight well and badly performing business areas, enabling organisations to prioritise where to make investments
• Data can be independently verified, with data quality issues being highlighted easily
• Technical engineers undertaking the assessment can provide a layer of engineering input to the analysis