New report reveals surge in office ventilation during COVID-19
• Market research shows a twofold increase in reported uptake of office ventilation, cooling and air conditioning in 2020/21
• Public and private sector continue to invest in energy efficiency measures, with 88% of survey respondents commissioning and delivering projects in 2020
• Suppliers believe Government should provide more support to drive energy efficiency uptake, with over 70% of purchasing organisations self-funding projects
A report by energy efficiency consultancy EEVS has revealed a surge of investment in office ventilation, cooling and air conditioning from UK businesses and the public sector over the last year.
The research was undertaken between April and June 2021, and mapped energy efficiency and climate emergency trends among organisations operating across public, institutional, commercial and industrial sectors. 82% of respondents work for large UK organisations which employ over 1,000 people.
Anecdotal evidence shows that a number of offices are now operating ventilation over a 24-hour period, leading to concerns about their ability to operate energy efficiently. Some offices had 80 per cent less staff during lockdown, but only saved 10 per cent of energy compared to before the pandemic.
Commenting on the findings, Ian Jeffries, managing director of EEVS, said: “There is a potential scenario in which increased energy usage will lead to a carbon rebound as people return to offices. Many energy teams will already be focused on how their real estate strategy aligns with their corporate net zero vision. But they need to do this by preparing for a carbon rebound and, crucially, should now be making plans to mitigate it.”
In a positive sign for the future, EEVS’ research showed that UK public and private sector organisations have used the pandemic to undertake energy efficiency projects across their property estates. Despite the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, 88% of respondents reported that they had commissioned and delivered projects in 2020.
Despite a downbeat response from suppliers about their challenges over the last 12 months, the survey revealed a sense of optimism for the next year as society and business continue to unlock. Suppliers expect a significant rise in demand, with the climate emergency and reputational impact among the key drivers for customers seeking energy efficiency products and services.
To capitalise on this appetite and help UK businesses decarbonise, suppliers are calling on Government to provide more support in driving uptake across the public and private sectors. Just under 40% of businesses felt that current Government energy efficiency policy was either ‘very ineffective’ or ‘ineffective’.
Ian added: “We’re living in a time of unprecedented change and a climate emergency. Buildings in the age of COVID-19 will need increased ventilation and therefore energy, which must be delicately balanced with a commitment to reducing business carbon footprint.
“To support organisations, it is key that suppliers continue to adapt to our changing world and consumer expectations. And it is equally important that Government recognises the sector’s needs, providing the policy framework to support carbon reduction. We are seeing positive steps with the recently published Net Zero and heat and buildings strategies, and we keenly await the result of the Future Buildings Standard consultation. As more businesses plot the return to the office, let’s do everything we can to prevent a carbon rebound.”
To access the report visit: https://eevs.co.uk/eevs-energy-efficiency-trends-2021/
For more information contact:
Nick Keegan, Director
telephone: 07584 010033
| email: nick.keegan@eevs.co.uk | website: www.eevs.co.uk
view profile on ESTA at: www.estaenergy.org.uk/members/eevs-insight-limited
All EEVS Insight Limited News
- New report reveals surge in office ventilation during COVID-19
- A report by energy efficiency consultancy EEVS has revealed a surge of investment in office ventilation, cooling and air conditioning from UK businesses and the public sector over the last year. | 9th November 2021
- Business energy efficiency: suppliers look overseas as UK orders stall in last quarter of 2018
- Overseas orders for suppliers of energy efficiency increased, whilst consumers reported a drop in spending per project | 6th March 2019
- Outlook for energy efficiency sector remains positive as suppliers report second quarter of order book strength
- 04 December 2018, London – The 3Q 2018 Energy Efficiency Trends report, published today by EEVS Insight and BloombergNEF (BNEF), reports that supplier order books remain strong within the energy efficiency sector, leading to a second quarter of positive market sentiment. | 4th December 2018
- BEMS Technology Rivals LED Lighting as Quarterly Trends Report Shows 57% Growth in Commissioning
- The Q2 2018 Energy Efficiency Trends report published today by EEVS Insight and Bloomberg NEF (BNEF), shows a surge in projects incorporating building energy management systems (BEMS) technology, closing the gap with long running energy efficiency technology favourite LED lighting | 26th September 2018
- Quarterly Energy Efficiency Trends Report Shows Surge in Projects Using Smart Building Technology
- Published today by EEVS Insight and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the latest Energy Efficiency Trends report shows the commissioning of projects involving smart building technologies has risen by almost a third in the first quarter of 2018, compared to the 2017 average | 20th June 2018
- Survey reports positive growth in UK energy performance contracts
- Published today by EEVS Insight and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the latest Energy Efficiency Trends report includes a special feature documenting trends in the UK’s energy performance contracting (EPC) market. | 22nd March 2018
- Latest EEVS / Bloomberg Energy Efficiency Trends charts industry reaction to Clean Growth Strategy
- Clean Growth Strategy welcome but not ambitious enough says energy efficiency sector. 59% of survey respondents to the latest Energy Efficiency Trends survey felt the Government’s target to improve... | 9th January 2018
- EEVS Insight – Report indicates upbeat Energy Efficiency sector and satisfied customers
- 20 June 2017, London – Within the latest UK Energy Efficiency Trends report, published today by EEVS Insight and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, UK customers reported almost universally positive feedback on supplier performance. | 20th June 2017
- EEVS Insight – Energy efficiency sector reflects UK’s strong economic growth
- 07 March 2017, London – The latest UK Energy Efficiency Trends report, published today by EEVS Insight and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, shows a continued recovery in the number of energy efficiency projects commissioned in Q4 2016. | 7th March 2017