Bank of Ireland 8-10% Energy Savings
Bernard Higgins, Bank of Ireland’s Group Facilities Manager, Liam Relihan, CEO of ResourceKraft, Frank Casey, Vice-President Business Development ResourceKraft
“ResourceKraft measurement of Electricity, Fuel Oil, Gas and Water provides empirical data. Knowledge has given us the ability to speak with authority to internal stakeholders and confirm CRC carbon tax liabilities.” Bernard Higgins, Group Facilities & Energy Manager
The Bank of Ireland Group (BoI) is the largest independent banking group in Ireland and the largest deposit bank. Founded in 1783 by Royal Charter, it is now is composed of a listed operational parent company with 20 business units in offices across Ireland and the UK. With Multi- Billion in assets, and over 1 Million customers, BoI has a broad, diversified, and complementary customer base. It is a traditional, relationship-driven retail and commercial bank with a conservative business philosophy. Bank of Ireland Group recognises that its business activities have an impact on the environment, its policy is to minimise that impact.
In 2008-9 a renewed focus on cost control became paramount given the economic situation that pertained. In 2009 BoI sought a number of strategic step change initiatives to manage costs within the Group. Building energy and water management solutions for the 315 branch network became one of those step-changes. Research within the Group Facilities team identified several areas with significant potential, including 8-10% energy savings that might be available by simply identifying & rigorously managing branch out-of-hours electricity use.
Bank of Ireland is overall winner of ‘The Green Awards 2011’
“The software’s look and feel communicates effectively to all bank staff” Bernard Higgins, Group Facilities & Energy Manager
HISTORY OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT IN BANK OF IRELAND
In 2007, power quality issues motivated a desire to monitor electricity usage throughout the branch network. Upon further investigation, BoI also identified saving opportunities in the control of carbon, energy and water. With this in mind, the team decided to obtain management approval to tender for an energy management system. This system would be required to identify and manage quality issues, potential energy and water cost savings and carbon reductions.
“It makes absolute business sense, ResourceKraft is delivering control of energy and water costs, like ERP does on managing our other business costs.” Bernard Higgins, Group Facilities & Energy Manager
WHY RESOURCEKRAFT ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM?
BoI went to tender, choosing ResourceKraft Energy Advisor as the Energy and Carbon Management System (ECMS) that would allow the group to meet its goals.
ResourceKraft competed against six other best-of-breed national and international bidders. The selection criteria were cost, technical quality, competence and software that would be suitable to BoI. ResourceKraft won on all these criteria, while delivering the extra benefits of a cloud-based solution that conformed to the strict security guidelines of the BoI IT department.
ResourceKraft initially deployed a pilot of 12 branches that identified many of the installations issues that would arise. Shortly after, the solution was deployed across the complete branch network, completed on-time and on budget.
Based on the initial success of the branch network, ResourceKraft have since been commissioned to extend the ECMS in 50 areas across the BoI administration sites. 
THE GOALS
The Energy Management programme goals were:
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To make energy cost savings;
It was projected that investments in an ECMS would increase the effectiveness of business operation activities while controlling and managing in a more sophisticated way. A target of 4% in savings was set for the first year.
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Reduce Carbon and meet sustainability targets;
Bank of Ireland Group recognises that its business activities have an impact on the environment, both globally and locally. It has a policy to minimise the impact of the bank operations on the environment and is committed to reporting into the Carbon Disclosure Project. Bank of Ireland intends to become the first financial institution in Europe to have attained external certification to EN16001, (presently updating certification to ISO50001). ResourceKraft Advisor provides comprehensive, auditable carbon data for these ends.
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Utility cost management
The continuous detail on actual Electricity, Gas, Water and Oil use, with reconciliation against bills received to identify discrepancies. Ensuring BoI pay only for what they use.
To manage those very complex electricity tariffs ensuring also that the best pricing is achieved at all times. BoI now have the knowledge to manage utility charges and carbon liabilities with the extensive information provided by ResourceKraft. -
To maintain top-level support and service expected of a world-class financial institution.
As in all areas of the banks business, guaranteed reliability, robustness and efficiency are required. Minimal down-time, security and high performance are absolutely essential to effective operations.
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Engage staff and management at all levels
Management and staff are concerned about their effect on the environment. No one actively wants to waste energy. Providing visibility to staff improves communication and effectiveness towards the common goal of reducing carbon.
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Managing energy across a diverse estate
As Bank of Ireland out-sourced its facilities management services over 10 years ago. Obtaining greater information and knowledge of remote operations can be a challenge.
DELIVERABLES
The ResourceKraft system will have identified savings that will have Bank of Ireland exceeding its energy savings goals in year 1 and the project cash positive in year 2.
“In a few days, ResourceKraft measurement and analysis of 15 minute interval data from Electricity, Fuel Oil, Gas and Water identified an average of 10% of available electricity savings per branch per month.
Water e.g. the loss of 6000 gallons per weekend fixed with a new stopcock.
Having proof of actual water use allows us to challenge, e.g. in one case actually 1/10th of that we being charged for” Bernard Higgins
MOVING FORWARD
In 2012, BOI will be enlisting its Regional and Branch Managers to use ResourceKraft Energy Advisor on a day-to-day basis. It will be encouraging competition between regions and branches.
The facilitation of a clean environment and effective environmental protection is a fundamental aspect of good business operations. BoI is committed to deliver to the environmental and energy management standard ISO50001.
BoI will be extending the ECMS to support a comprehensive view of its administration buildings, with particular focus on out-of-hours use, concessionaires, and IT infrastructure.
“It makes absolute business sense, ResourceKraft is delivering full control of energy and water costs, like ERP does on managing our other business costs” said Bernard Higgins