Utility Insights: Savings Made Simple Across Industries

by Chris Hargreaves | Apr 23, 2024 | Carbon Sustainability, Case Studies, Energy

Discover how Total Utilities’ innovative ‘Utility Insights’ service sparked remarkable transformations in four unique settings. From schools to industrial plants, food manufacturers to national retail chains, witness the journey of overcoming challenges and achieving success through proactive utility management.

High School Aces Utility Management Test with Total Utilities

Challenge:

A local high school’s rising utility costs were putting a strain on their budget. Additionally, waste handling expenses were escalating, further exacerbating financial pressures.

Solution:

Total Utilities stepped in with their Utility Insights service, offering a comprehensive solution to address the school’s utility management challenges. By collaborating closely with the school, Total Utilities provided proactive budgeting advice and identified opportunities for cost savings.

Result:

Through Total Utilities’ proactive approach, the high school achieved remarkable success, saving $40,000 annually (20%) in waste handling costs, offsetting rising expenses. Additionally, Total Utilities’ budgeting advice enabled planning for electricity and gas contract renewals, optimising budget and ensuring sustainability.

Overall, Total Utilities’ Utility Insights empowered the high school to overcome challenges, achieve savings, and pave the way for continued success.

Industrial Plant’s $70k Savings Story

Challenge:

Utility Insights reporting on electricity cost and consumption for this industrial client revealed an alarming discovery: over $70k of reactive charges per year were being incurred. These penalty charges resulted in a significant financial burden for the plant.

Solution:

Total Utilities stepped in to address the challenge. By implementing power factor correction equipment to improve electrical efficiency, we provided a proactive solution to mitigate the reactive charges. Additionally, our system ensured that if power factor charges were incurred again, the correction equipment could be serviced promptly, avoiding any unnecessary costs.

Result:

Through Total Utilities’ intervention, the industrial plant saw remarkable results. The installation of power factor correction equipment led to a substantial reduction in reactive charges, saving the plant over $70k per year. The plant can now effectively manage power factor charges and prevent any future financial losses, ensuring long-term cost savings and operational efficiency.

Total Utilities’ Data Dive for Food Manufacturer Improves Efficiency, Cuts Costs

Challenge:

A food manufacturing plant faced the challenge of understanding and optimising energy consumption across its processing plants. Without detailed production data, it was challenging to benchmark electricity and gas usage efficiency accurately.

Solution:

Total Utilities implemented a solution by adding production data tracking at each processing plant. This provided deeper analytics for benchmarking energy consumption efficiency. By integrating production data with utility usage, our system enabled the customer to clearly visualise how energy was used in relation to production outputs.

Result:

With Total Utilities’ solution in place, the Food Manufacturing Plant achieved remarkable results. The addition of production data allowed for the creation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at each plant, enabling better tracking and management of energy usage.

Furthermore, cross-site benchmarking within each business unit became possible, facilitating insights and improvements across the organisation. Through Total Utilities’ innovative approach, our client optimised energy efficiency, reduced costs, and paved the way for continued success in sustainable manufacturing.

Revolutionising Retail Efficiency for National Retail Chain

Challenge:

A national retail chain client with 45 locations across New Zealand faced the challenge of managing out-of-hours energy consumption effectively. Ten stores were identified as having significant energy usage outside of operating hours, resulting in excessive costs exceeding $140,000 per year.

Solution:

Total Utilities implemented a solution by resetting Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) controls to ensure energy usage aligned with operating hours. This proactive approach aimed to optimise energy consumption and reduce unnecessary costs associated with out-of-hours usage.

Result:

With Total Utilities’ intervention, our client achieved significant savings and efficiency improvements. By resetting HVAC controls, energy consumption during non-operational hours was minimised, leading to substantial cost reductions. This strategic approach not only helped the chain save money but also contributed to its sustainability efforts by reducing unnecessary energy waste.

• Contact Total Utilities today for a free consultation.