An Cosantóir

| 17 Lt Cdr Ger Menihane receiving the AEE award from Dr Eric Woodruff Lt Cdr Menihane meets former Governor Schwarzenegger at the AEE ceremony and 35% of DF energy consumption, it was imperative that the NS sought to place its greatest focus here. Early stage programme development commenced with the initiation of Certified Energy Manager (CEM) training for identified key personnel. An outcome of the CEM training was the recognition that the most effective approach to energy management for the NS was a structured approach, properly resourced. The NS then put in place a structured energy management framework in line with the international energy management standard, ISO 50001, which was under development. The NS also committed to undertake formal training on energy management standards in order to allow personnel to properly develop the ISO 50001 structure and implement a strategic approach across the organisation's operational and engineering disciplines. Having appointed an energy manager and a cross-functional energy team, the NS set about completing an energy review, or gap analysis, using in-house personnel, assisted by external expertise, to develop a more structured understanding of the various elements impacting the energy use of the organisation and to allow functional performance indicators to be developed for all areas of operation. It was made clear at an early stage that it was an imperative that energy management could not impinge on operational requirements. Further to this, the system was to be output driven and not a paper exercise. This challenge was embraced by the NS Energy Management Team (EnMT) which set about developing the structures to make this happen. The implementation team was fully supported by higher command, which reviewed recommendations at each stage of development and put into place a number of operational and support directives that underpinned the work of the energy team. The completion of the structured implementation of the EnMS was marked with the recognition by an external certification body of full compliance with ISO 50001 but more importantly by a clear increase in energy efficiency, and a reduction in energy consumption and cost to the organisation. The structured energy management system is lean from an administrative perspective, ensuring that the focus is on energy and not bureaucracy. The benefits seen to the organisation from this approach have been: reduced energy consumption of 80 GWh (20% over the four years of implementation); an annual energy consumption figure in 2011 of 30% below the 2007 baseline; savings of €5.8m; a reduction in emissions of 20 million kgs CO2; improved technical understanding of energy consumption; and improved energy and operational planning through improved co-operation and communication between the operational and engineering/support functions of the Naval Service. These achievements were key to the AEE judging panel selecting the NS as meriting the award. For the same reasons the NS was also shortlisted as a finalist in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Energy Awards in 2012. As the twin challenges of decreasing budgets and increasing fuel prices continue, the NS will continue to refine its energy management system to mitigate the effects of these challenges and enable the NS to meet its statutory requirements. www.military.ie the defence forces magazine

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