What is transport packaging?

In this guide:

  • What is transport packaging?

    Packaging is available in many forms. The type of transport packaging you need depends on the goods or materials you're transporting and the level of protection required.

    Categories of packaging

    The three main categories of packaging are:

    • primary packaging - also known as sales packaging, this protects and identifies the product
    • secondary packaging - groups or binds more than one item together
    • tertiary packaging - also known as transport packaging, this protects the product during storage and transportation

    Packaging goods and materials for transit usually involves a combination of the three types, eg cardboard retail packaging covered by plastic binding on a pallet.

    Types of transport packaging

    The three main types of transport packaging are:

    • containers
    • pallets
    • liquid storage tanks or drums

    Containers such as boxes and crates can be made from many types of material including cardboard, plastic and metal.

    Pallets are traditionally made from wood although plastic pallets are an option.

    Liquid storage containers can be made from metal or plastic.

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  • Top tips to reduce transit packaging

    Using a systematic approach is likely to be the most effective way of making your transit-packaging use more efficient.

    1. Win support and the initial review

    To ensure that your efforts are taken seriously, you need to convince senior management that your business would benefit from keeping packaging to a minimum.

    You may want to carry out an initial review to gather evidence. You could do this, for example, by walking round your site to identify areas of waste and opportunities for improvement. You could estimate the savings associated with a few of the more promising improvements.

    2. Appoint a co-ordinator

    It is useful to have one overall project co-ordinator or 'champion' to lead the work, such as your logistics manager or environmental manager. You should also get the right people involved. This could include:

    • procurement and purchasing staff
    • environmental and waste-management staff
    • manufacturing and logistics managers
    • marketing and product-development staff
    • key external organisations such as packaging and material suppliers
    • customers

    3. Gather information on packaging use and disposal

    Gathering information can help you to identify areas of significant waste and comply with legislation. The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations require businesses to gather accurate data on the weight of packaging that they 'handle'. This means that you need to think about all the packaging associated with supply, including display, collation and transit packaging. You should also consider imported packaging for which you were the end-user.

    4. Analyse data and identify areas for improvement

    You should use key performance indicators (KPIs) to help you compare packaging use. KPIs for packaging management include:

    • packaging cost per item, eg pence/item or £/tonne
    • packaging waste per item, eg kilogram/item or kilogram/tonne

    As well as analysing the data, it is useful to convert each waste quantity into a financial value that takes account of both material and disposal costs. This can help you to make the case for improvements.

    5. Prioritise improvement options

    Once you have identified where there may be scope for improvement, you should consider the options and rank them in order of priority. Think about each improvement option in terms of its cost to the business, its likely benefit or savings and the level of difficulty in implementing it.

    Giving priority to the easier and low-cost measures will achieve quick results. This will help to motivate everyone concerned. However, longer term solutions may provide you with the highest overall cost savings.

    6. Produce an action plan

    Once you have considered the various options, you should prepare an action plan that describes what will be done, who will do it and when. Your plan should contain simple, measurable, achievable, realistic targets within appropriate timescales.

    7. Implement the action plan

    Implementation may involve all sorts of measures, from packaging redesign to introducing reusable systems.

    It is important to get everyone involved in implementing the plan, from the managing director down to those, for example, who collect and separate packaging materials.

    8. Review progress

    Once the action plan is in place, you should review progress against targets regularly - perhaps every six months initially, and then on an annual basis.

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  • How to reduce transport packaging

    Reducing your use of transport packaging is cost-effective good for the environment. You can avoid the need for transport packaging altogether, eg by a change in working practices or introducing a new item of equipment.

    Ways to reduce transport packaging

    You can make reductions in transport packaging by:

    • Avoiding extra layers - poor practices result in goods being packaged in too many layers. For example, goods are sometimes wrapped in multiple layers, where at least one layer is redundant.
    • Improving cleanliness - better cleaning in the workplace and throughout the distribution chain reduces the risk of product and packaging contamination.
    • Improving product handling - eg through staff training and improved equipment. This reduces the risk of product damage and the need for packaging.
    • Just-in-time delivery - the product spends less time in the warehouse and is at less risk of contamination and physical damage.
    • Bulk delivery - materials delivered in bulk can avoid the need for packaging. Bulk delivery of liquids and powders can eliminate the need for drums and other containers.
    • Change the product itself - a minor redesign of a product, eg a slight change to a dimension or a material, may allow you to significantly reduce the packaging used to protect it.
    • Alternative on-site handling and distribution - eg you can pipe liquids and powders around the site, while you can move certain light objects around site pneumatically.
    • Alternatives to pallets - you can handle quite heavy loads using slip sheets and push-pull units or, where the load is particularly light, by hand.
    • Optimise one stage of packaging - eg redesigning a product's shelf-ready packaging to make it stronger could mean you can reduce the packaging needed to protect it during transport.
    • Rationalising your packaging - using standard types and sizes of packaging for a range of different products can help with economies of scale, flexibility and reduced warehousing needs. It also enables continuity through the supply chain and the ability to swap out broken or damaged packaging more easily.
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  • Recycle transport packaging

    Most clean transport packaging materials can be either sold or removed free of charge. Recycling businesses or waste-exchange can ensure your transport packaging is successfully recycled.

    How to recycle your transport packaging

    It is important to correctly prepare your transport packaging for recycling.

    • Separate wastes effectively at the source. This reduces contamination, eg from tape, labels, staples and chemicals. Use colour-coded boxes to allow easy separation of transport packaging materials. Make sure that these boxes are close to the waste-producing process and make staff aware of where they are.
    • Empty and/or clean packaging carefully. This will improve the percentage of the transport packaging being taken for reconditioning or recycling. This can make packaging ordinary waste rather than hazardous waste.
    • Avoid using mixed materials, eg metal or plastic closures on a cardboard box. This should make it easier to carry out recycling. Single material designs are desirable for recycling.
    • Clearly mark the packaging. Indicate what types of material are used in your transport packaging so that materials can be separated more easily from mixed waste streams. Plastics can be embossed with the appropriate symbol to eliminate the need for a separate label.
    • Consider whether you can compost the packaging, eg paper and board can be mixed with garden waste to produce quality compost. Your local council or waste management contractor may be able to take your transport packaging waste for composting.
    • Clean contaminated packaging materials. This can increase their value. Careful storage in covered and clearly labelled skips and bins can ensure that materials do not become mixed or contaminated by other materials, water or food (which can attract vermin). Wet paper loads may be rejected by recyclers because they are difficult to handle.
    • Bulk up loads. Recycling may not be economical for sites with low quantities of materials. However, you can increase tonnages by bringing material from several sites through back-haulage in vehicles used for delivery to a central point. Larger tonnages in one place are far more attractive to recyclers.
    • Check your packaging is being recycled. You should request information from your contractor which proves that your transport packaging waste is being recycled and not sent to landfill.

    You should make sure you handle materials for recycling properly. You may need authorisation to deal with transport packaging waste from other businesses.

    Transport packaging waste exchange

    Invest Northern Ireland's Industrial Symbiosis Service works directly with businesses to match wasted resources with resource needs. Your transport packaging could be a valuable raw material to another local business. Find out more about the Industrial Symbiosis Service and upcoming free resource matching workshops.

    Transport packaging and producer obligations

    If your business handles more than 50 tonnes of packaging in a calendar year and has a turnover of more than £2 million then the producer responsibility obligations applies to your business.

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  • Efficient use of one-trip transport packaging

    You should use optimised one-trip packaging if you cannot reuse your transport packaging. Good packaging design and good working practices can optimise the amount of transport packaging you use and reduce waste.

    Efficient use of transport boxes and corrugated cases

    You can make transporting boxes and corrugated cases more efficient by:

    • using shrink-wrap instead of a box
    • optimising the design of the box to reduce unused space within it
    • use smaller boxes

    Efficient use of transport drums and intermediate bulk containers

    You can make transporting drums and intermediate bulk containers more efficient by:

    • using plastic drums, intermediate bulk containers or corrugated drums instead of metal
    • ensuring that the drums you use are as lightweight as possible

    Efficient use of transport collation packs

    You can make transporting collation packs more efficient by:

    • using shrink-wrap alone
    • using larger denominations or different formats to save packaging material

    Efficient use of transport packaging fill materials

    You can make transporting fill materials more efficient by:

    • altering the container's design to eliminate unused internal space
    • using paper and used corrugated board as a cheaper fill alternative

    Efficient use of transport box closures

    You can make transporting box closures more efficient by:

    • avoiding using staples which can reduce the possibility of reuse, and make it more difficult to recycle
    • avoiding the use of adhesive tape as a closure - you may be able to secure a corrugated box simply by interlocking the flaps
    • using plastic strapping or banding where a box has a separate or detachable lid and/or base

    Efficient use of transport plastic wrapping

    You can make transporting shrink-wrap, stretch-wrap and plastic bags more efficient by:

    • using a thinner material
    • using a different polymer to provide the same level of protection at lower cost and weight
    • using automatic or semi-automatic pallet wrappers to reduce the use of stretch-wrap

    Efficient use of transport pallets

    You can make transporting pallet loads more efficient by:

    • using palletisation software to help you to optimise the load
    • using shrink-wrap or strapping/banding rather that stretch-wrap for better stability
    • using specialist lightweight, one-trip wooden pallets
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  • What is sustainable transport packaging?

    Transport packaging which can be reused many times and over a long period can save your business money. Savings are possible through cost reductions when dealing with transport packaging waste and the resources needed to make new packaging.

    Types of sustainable transport packaging

    Some of the most popular types of sustainable transport packaging are:

    • pallets - traditional wooden pallets can be reused many times, while plastic pallets are also now available
    • drums and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) - smaller steel and plastic drums are available while IBCs usually have a capacity of 1,000 litres
    • crates, boxes and trays - many types, shape and size of crate, box and tray are available, traditionally made of wood but now available in plastic
    • separators, layer pads and collars - these keep layers of goods apart and provide extra stability while collars and frames, cornerpieces and edge-protectors protect the load from any banding
    • pallet boxes/systems - these consist of a robust fork-lift base and lid that lock to a deep and heavy-duty (double or triple-wall) corrugated board sleeve, which is generally collapsible
    • slip sheets and push-pull systems - these are plastic or corrugated sheets that can be placed under loads, as an alternative to a pallet, taking up very little space and are cheaper
    • metal cages and stillages - still widely used in the UK, eg to collect waste packaging around large retail stores, but now less widely used for external transport
    • specialist reusable systems for a specific product - more expensive than using 'off-the-peg' packaging, specialist systems can offer distribution and handling benefits, and can reduce costs in the longer term

    Reconditioned and leased transport packaging

    Many businesses use reconditioned transport packaging such as boxes, drums, pallets and crates to minimise their transit packaging costs. Over 60 per cent (by weight) of steel drums are reconditioned for reuse in the UK, while over 15 per cent of plastic drums are reused.

    Leasing is also common for drums, IBCs, pallets, crates, layer pads, collars, etc and can be organised through third-party organisations.

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  • Manage a reusable transit packaging system

    Systems that reuse transit packaging will only save you money if the containers are actually reused and the system is operated efficiently. This means keeping the number of units to a minimum and recovering the packaging quickly.

    Managing the scheme

    With large schemes, it may be cost-effective to have a dedicated manager with no other duties. You may also wish to consider asking a specialist third party to manage the scheme. This can sometimes be more cost-effective than doing it in-house.

    Number of units required

    It is important you work out the correct number of containers required, especially as at any given time some of them will be in transit, at customer or supplier premises or being prepared for reuse. The longer the delay, the greater the total number you will need to maintain the flow of goods.

    Transport and logistics

    Ideally, you should collect reusable packaging as you deliver and then backhaul it. This is straightforward if only one delivery is being made, but when several deliveries are made in one trip, the recovered packaging has to be carried onwards to the next delivery.

    Other potential issues to resolve when operating your own packaging reuse scheme include:

    • limited influence with your customers in ensuring the timely return of containers
    • complicated arrangements when it's necessary to collect a small number of containers or irregular consignments from several sites

    Scale of the scheme

    Small-scale schemes can work well when you have a limited number of suppliers and/or customers, and where they are concentrated regionally.

    Large-scale packaging reuse schemes are generally more efficient than smaller ones. These larger schemes offer two main advantages:

    • you can negotiate better prices for larger container orders and tend to have more influence over the prompt return of containers
    • having more site locations, journeys and containers involved makes it easier and cheaper to smooth out local variations and maintain packaging stocks at the level required to match demand

    Tracking and timely return of containers

    One of the key issues in any scheme is to track containers and make sure they are returned promptly by suppliers and customers. One option is to draw up a formal contract spelling out each party's responsibilities. If you feel that this approach could sour your relationship with your customer, opt for a more informal 'gentlemen's agreement' - but remember that such agreements are hard to enforce.

    It is also important to have some sort of tracking system that allows you to identify the number of containers at each possible location.

    Container cleaning and refurbishment

    Make sure that reusable packaging is separated, cleaned, checked for damage and refurbished as appropriate before each reuse.

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    • Advantages and disadvantages of sustainable transport packaging

      Sustainability is becoming more important for the public and in business. Transport packaging waste can be costly to your business and the environment.

      More sustainable forms of transport and delivery packaging, whether biodegradable materials or simply sturdy containers designed for ongoing use, can improve your environmental performance and image.

      However you need to carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks of sustainable transport packaging.

      Advantages of sustainable transport packaging

      The main advantage of using sustainable transport packaging is reducing your impact on the environment.

      Transport packaging waste can be harmful, difficult to recycle and can end up in landfill. By ensuring your containers and pallets can be reused, your business will have less waste to dispose of.

      Potential cost savings of sustainable transport packaging include:

      • reduced raw material and waste disposal costs
      • reduced handling and storage
      • reduced costs of complying with the packaging waste regulations

      A more sustainable approach to packaging will reflect well on your business and may attract customers who value environmental responsibility.

      Environmental clauses are common in tendering so demonstrating a strong commitment to reusable transport packaging may help you to win contracts.

      You may be able to use a specialist third party reusable transport packaging provider to source containers and reduce upfront costs of design and manufacture. Providers may offer a packaging lease or management service which could reduce your ongoing costs.

      Disadvantages of sustainable transport packaging

      The main disadvantage of sustainable or reusable transport packaging systems is cost.

      One-off costs of a sustainable transport packaging system include:

      • the initial purchase of reusable containers
      • modifications to handling and transport facilities
      • additional costs of the tracking system, eg software packages, bar code labelling/reading equipment, electronic chips and detectors

      You may be able to reduce these initial costs by leasing transport containers rather than buying them, or by using a slightly less sturdy design.

      Ongoing costs will include the logistics of returning your reusable packaging and maintenance. It may be cost-effective to have a dedicated staff resource to operate your sustainable transport packaging system.

      Sustainable transport packaging can be less flexible if your products or transit needs change and your packaging design needs to be altered.

      Materials used in sustainable transport packaging may still be harmful to the environment, eg plastic or metal. You should ensure that you have a sustainable end-of-life plan for your sustainable transport packaging, eg recycling or reuse.

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    • Reuse one-trip transit packaging

      Although dedicated reusable systems generally offer the best solution, one-trip packaging can sometimes be made multi-purpose or reused several times.

      Corrugated and plastic transit cases are available that double as in-store display cases, with the lids and sides acting as the display framework with the products visible inside. A number of large retail chains now use such transit packaging, sometimes with a pallet-style base or wheeled base. It is also known as 'shelf-ready packaging'.

      You may be able to sell your waste corrugated cases to a cardboard box merchant for reuse rather than to a paper/board merchant for recycling. This will maximise your revenue. Similarly, you may be able to send used drums for reconditioning and sell wooden pallets to a pallet merchant.

      If you cannot reuse or sell it, you may be able to donate used packaging to other businesses or to schools or nurseries.

      Although it will not raise revenue, this approach will at least reduce the volume of your general waste and your disposal costs. You must, however, make sure you observe the waste duty of care.

      Making a little effort to separate packaging materials and keep them clean can increase the opportunities for reuse or recycling. Separating used packaging before it becomes mixed in the skip will help to reduce contamination.

      Consider setting up an on-site system for preparing drums, intermediate bulk containers and other liquid containers for reuse. Some businesses benefit significantly from the on-site drainage, washing, relabelling and reuse of drums and other containers.

      If the design of the packaging is inhibiting reuse, consider redesigning it. For example, you may be able to encourage the reuse of corrugated cases by eliminating staples. Review options for whether packaging designed for one trip can be reused for another purpose or by another organisation.

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    • Reduce transit packaging disposal costs

      Ideally, you should recondition or recycle waste packaging wherever possible. However, even if it has been reused, packaging will ultimately have to be disposed of. There are a number of measures that you can take to minimise your waste disposal costs:

      • Separate hazardous packaging waste properly. Mixing hazardous waste with non-hazardous waste makes the whole load hazardous and increases costs dramatically.
      • Use the best skips. Ask your waste management contractor if you can rent covered front-end loader (FEL) or larger rear-end loader (REL) units rather than ordinary open skips. FELs and RELs can be emptied into a waste collection compactor vehicle, which is cheaper than having whole skips removed and replaced.
      • Use your waste containers effectively. Skips are often used inefficiently and emptied when only partially full. This increases your waste disposal costs as the number of collections and transport costs are a key element of pricing.
      • Use the largest containers you can. Assuming that there are no health or environmental risks associated with longer storage (eg odour and leakage), it is generally best to use the largest skips possible.
      • Consider buying or leasing volume reduction equipment. Shredders, balers, compactors, roll packers and drum crushers can reduce the volume of general and compressible waste to about 20 per cent of its original volume.
      • Get the best waste contractor deal. Waste removal costs can vary greatly between waste management businesses so you should shop around for the most appropriate deal.
      • Get good data from your contractor. Ask your contractor to provide waste disposal data by weight to help you monitor and minimise packaging waste.
      • Purchase and operate high-value equipment jointly with other businesses. This could be beneficial if you only have small volumes of waste.
      • Consider energy recovery. Options include a small energy-from-waste plant or a combined heat and power plant. Large businesses can bring together waste from all their sites to make this feasible, while smaller businesses could collaborate.

      If you don't transport your waste packaging materials yourself, you must use a licensed waste carrier.

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    What is resource matching?

    In this guide:

    • Advantages of reusing waste

      You may be able to reuse materials and equipment in your own business or another organisation may be able to reuse your unwanted and wasted resources.

      Reusing resources can reduce the costs of buying raw materials or having to pay for disposal. You may also be able to generate income from materials and goods that are valuable to another business.

      Reusing wasted resources within your business

      The goods and materials you can reuse will depend on your type of business. Office-based businesses, for example, can:

      • refill toner and ink-jet cartridges
      • use waste paper as notepaper
      • use durable cups, mugs, glasses and cutlery rather than disposable alternatives
      • reuse envelopes and other packaging
      • donate used equipment and furniture to charities
      • use greywater recycling systems for your toilets

      Manufacturing businesses, for example, may be able to reuse packaging and off-cuts, and capture waste heat generated by manufacturing processes for heating or reuse elsewhere in production.

      You should speak to your staff and ask them to 'think before they throw' as someone else may want to use their waste.

      Reuse by other organisations

      You can offer unwanted materials to other organisations which can use them without alteration, such as:

      • production by-products
      • second-hand products
      • end-of-line products
      • obsolete equipment

      Industrial symbiosis encourages resource matching between businesses - you can find out more about the advantages and disadvanges of trading waste and what resource matching is.

      You could try business-to-business online waste exchanges which trade a wide range of used industrial materials and equipment. You may also be able to sell goods and materials on online auction sites.

      Donating goods and materials can improve the image of your business and demonstrate your corporate social responsibility.

      Whichever way you choose to deal with your wasted resources, you are responsible for making sure you comply with your duty of care for business waste.

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    • What is resource matching?

      Resource matching is the transferring of unwanted materials from one business or organisation to be reused, recycled, reprocessed and repackaged by another.

      Agreeing to receive wasted resources can be on the basis of:

      • being paid for waste
      • paying nothing for its removal
      • paying less than the cost for its disposal

      Invest NI has a free Industrial Symbiosis Service that provides guidance and introductions on how to achieve resource matching specific to your business needs. The Industrial Symbiosis Service can introduce you to a broad range of solutions and partners including businesses, social enterprises, charities, and other third sector organisations.

      Examples of successful resource matching

      Wasted materials which can be successfully matched come from a variety of sources and processes. Here are some recent examples of different types of resource matching which have been successfully supported by Invest NI's Industrial Symbiosis Service:

      Redundant raw materials

      • Problem: unopened bags of sodium chloride that no longer met production guidelines now surplus to requirements.
      • Solution: another industry sector can use that material for boiler water treatment.
      • Benefits: avoided disposal costs as a chemical waste, accessed a cheaper source of new product for boiler water treatment processes.

      Improving operating costs and productivity

      • Problem: pulverising blades costing a manufacturer significant downtime and sharpening costs.
      • Solutions: introduced to a local company that applied their design and special purpose machine skills and production capacity to produce a machine to sharpen blades on site.
      • Benefits: reduced shipping and transportation costs, reduced production downtime, improved blade quality, improved product specification.

      Waste packaging

      • Problem: over 100 hessian sacks a week destined for landfill accumulating at a coffee roasting company.
      • Solutions: used for set and stage decoration at music festival and multi-use venue; environmentally friendly alternative for floating paths in vulnerable peaty ground in mountainous areas, bee keeping functions.
      • Benefits: improved land management and conservation work, cost savings on new materials for set and stage decoration, avoided landfill disposal.

      Cross sectoral resource matching

      • Problem: sole trader with niche production requirements needed to source sustainable and ethical materials to handcraft yoga bags.
      • Solution: PVC truck tarpaulins destined for landfill met the product specifications including colour, texture and durability.
      • Benefits: removed waste management costs, reuse of materials for new product development.

      If you have a wasted resource, or a niche material need which could be fulfilled by other businesses' waste, contact the Invest NI Industrial Symbiosis service.

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    • How to match resources with other businesses

      Finding reuse and recycling solutions helps businesses reduce waste management producers, while helping potential users reduce raw material costs.

      It also fosters the development of partnerships between businesses, and offers networking and collaborative opportunities to small firms.

      A business improvement technique called industrial symbiosis provides businesses with the opportunity to match an excess of any resource such as waste, transport, storage, skills, capacity, energy, with other businesses that could use that resource.

      Invest Northern Ireland's Industrial Symbiosis Service works directly with businesses of all sizes and from all sectors. Experienced industrial symbiosis practitioners provide advice, support and guidance to businesses on resource efficiency, legislation and waste management.

      Resource Matching Workshops are a key element of the Industrial Symbiosis Service and facilitate businesses in resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis.

      The Industrial Symbiosis Service also partners with trade organisations and research organisations to bring innovative and specific solutions to businesses.

      Industrial symbiosis activities can include:

      • advisory visits to review business production from raw material input to final product and wasted resources generated
      • quick win workshops
      • cross-sectoral networking
      • identification of potential matches between business participants
      • follow-up visits with businesses to progress synergies
      • referrals to other Invest NI support

      Relevant businesses can receive details of available resources and activities through emails, phone calls, visits and referrals to Invest NI.

      The Industrial Symbiosis Service can introduce you to a broad range of solutions including social enterprises, charities, and other third sector organisations.

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    • Advantages and disadvantages of trading waste

      Before you get involved in a waste exchange programme you should be aware of certain key issues:

      • the type of waste you produce or the type of waste you can use
      • the waste exchange method and associated costs
      • legal and contractual responsibilities such as terms of payment, obligations, material specifications, legal compliance and duty of care

      Finding waste streams with exchange potential is becoming easier with the development of web-based exchanges. These enable you to identify potential exchange partners.

      To exchange waste legally and safely you must ensure that the business to which you sell your waste is licensed to receive it. You are responsible for the waste until the exchange partner receives it, and are therefore accountable throughout the handling and transport stages.

      Finding reliable exchange partners and waste carrier services is a vital part of the waste exchange process.

      It is important to have an official contract between yourself and the waste exchange partner, both for those supplying waste or those collecting waste from you.

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    • Can I sell waste resources from my business?

      Some wasted resources can retain enough value to allow your business to put a price on them. There are a number of factors which can determine if it's worth your while.

      Pricing your wasted resources depends on its nature, quantity and quality, and the demand within the market. Setting a competitive price can help you can trade successfully with a number of partners.

      You need to account for the administrative and logistical activities involved in trading your waste. These may include:

      • filling in paperwork
      • collecting and delivering materials
      • transporting and storing materials
      • reprocessing materials if necessary

      In some cases, where the resource can be reused without additional processing, it may be more beneficial to donate the materials rather than set a price.

      It is important to keep up to date with the current value of the waste materials with which you are dealing. This will help you to offer competitive prices, and to understand the commercial value of the waste you are buying and/or selling - find the latest market value of waste materials to both collectors and buyers of recyclable materials.

      You may be eligible for financial support to cover the costs of reprocessing certain waste materials so that they can be used again. Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs) offer financial assistance towards the costs of energy-efficient machinery and other tools designed to aid the reuse of waste materials - find details of funding to support waste management processes.

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    Types of asbestos

    In this guide:

    • Types of asbestos

      The different types of asbestos used in construction before 1999 which may still be present

      Large amounts of asbestos-containing materials were used for a wide range of construction purposes in new and refurbished buildings until 1999 when the use of asbestos was banned..

      There are six types of asbestos:

      • white asbestos (also called chrysotile or serpentine)
      • brown asbestos (also called amosite or grunerite)
      • blue asbestos (also called crocidolite or riebeckite)
      • anthophyllite
      • tremolite
      • actinolite

      Asbestos may be found in the floor, wall, ceiling or roofing materials of any building built or refurbished before 2000, or in contaminated soils.

      You should carry out a survey to identify if asbestos is present and which type of asbestos it is.

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    • Where is asbestos found in buildings?

      The most common locations in buildings where asbestos can be found

      Asbestos-containing materials were used until 1999 for a wide range of construction purposes in new and refurbished buildings including the following:

      • sprayed asbestos and loose asbestos packing were used as fire breaks in ceiling voids
      • hand moulded or pre-formed coatings and lagging were used as thermal insulation for pipes and boilers
      • sprayed asbestos and asbestos in a cement matrix were used as fire protection in ducts, firebreaks, panels, partitions, soffit boards, ceiling panels and around structural steel work
      • sprayed asbestos and board materials were used for sound proofing in walls and ceilings, usually as a coating or as tiles
      • asbestos cement products included corrugated roofing sheets, corrugated sheets for wall cladding, gutters, rainwater pipes and water tanks
      • millboard, paper and paper products containing asbestos were used for the insulation of electrical equipment, and as sandwich or backing materials - eg on wood veneers or linoleum
      • asbestos fibres were woven into ropes and cloths - eg fire blankets and heat resistant gloves
      • asbestos was used in textured coating, decorative plasters and paints - eg 'Artex' type finishes and cornices
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    • Identifying asbestos

      Your responsibilities for identifying asbestos and maintaining an asbestos register for your buildings

      Asbestos was commonly used in construction and building maintenance from the 1940s to the 1990s. Any building built or refurbished before 2000 could contain asbestos. If you are responsible for maintaining all or part of a business premises you must also manage any asbestos in the premises. The purpose of this is to prevent or, where this is not reasonably possible, minimise exposure. You should:

      • establish whether the buildings contain asbestos and, if so, where it is and what condition it is in - if in doubt you must presume that materials contain asbestos
      • assess the risk
      • make a plan to manage that risk and act on it

      Asbestos surveys

      To identify potential asbestos materials in the building you may have to undertake an asbestos survey. The purpose of an asbestos survey is to:

      • help manage asbestos in your premises
      • provide accurate information on the location, amount and condition of asbestos-containing materials
      • assess the level of damage or deterioration and whether remedial action is required
      • use the survey information to prepare a record of the location of any asbestos, commonly called an asbestos register, and an asbestos plan of the building
      • help identify all asbestos materials to be removed before refurbishment work or demolition
      • establish a management plan to manage the risks from asbestos materials

      You may be able to conduct an in-house survey or you may need to employ an accredited specialist. You must make sure that the person conducting the survey has the correct experience and training, and they must conduct the survey in accordance with Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidance.

      If you are in rented or shared premises you need to check whether you are responsible for obtaining this information. The person responsible may be the leaseholder or the owner, it may be shared between a number of leaseholders or it may pass to a managing agent. Check your tenancy agreement or contract to see if you are responsible for the maintenance and repair of your premises.

      Building maintenance

      If you are planning any maintenance or demolition work at your own premises, you will need to carry out an asbestos survey to locate and identify any materials containing asbestos. By identifying asbestos materials early in the project you can reduce the potential for delays and increased costs later.

      If you are a maintenance, demolition or construction contractor, the owner or occupier of any building that you work on must supply you with detailed information on the location, type and condition of asbestos-containing materials within the structure of the building that may be hazardous to you or your employees' health or welfare.

      If you work on the fabric of a building and are at risk of disturbing asbestos you must make sure that you and your employees are able to identify asbestos in case you find it unexpectedly. You must ensure that any worker who is likely to disturb asbestos materials as part of their work activities has received appropriate asbestos awareness training.

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    • Working with asbestos

      The legal responsibilities that apply if you work with asbestos

      The majority of work with asbestos must be carried out by a licensed contractor. If you do not have an asbestos licence, you can only carry out non-licensed work yourself if you are properly trained and have the right equipment.

      In non-domestic buildings you have a right to be given information about the condition and location of asbestos by the person who manages the building before you start work. You must pass this information on to anyone working for you on the job. You should ask for this information when tendering or quoting for work - it will help you cost the job correctly and plan the work safely, preventing potentially expensive surprises on site.

      Before you start work

      Before you start work on any building constructed before the year 2000, check that all employees and contractors on site know about any materials that have been identified as containing asbestos. Provide information about the location and condition of any asbestos to every person who could disturb it. Don't start work if:

      • you're not sure if there is asbestos where you're working
      • the asbestos materials are sprayed coatings, board or insulation, or lagging on pipes and boilers - only licensed contractors should work on these
      • you have not been trained to do non-licensed work with asbestos - basic awareness training is not enough

      You should make sure that your employees and contractors know how to identify asbestos and know what to do if they find it unexpectedly - see an asbestos image gallery.

      What to do if you find asbestos

      If you come into contact with any materials that you suspect contain asbestos, including hidden materials or dust, you should stop work immediately and leave the area. If you are unsure whether a material contains asbestos, you should assume that the material does contain it until you are sure that it does not.

      You should only continue to work if:

      • the work has been properly planned and the right precautions are in place, eg you have the right equipment
      • the materials are asbestos cement, textured coatings and certain other materials which do not need a licence
      • you have had training in asbestos work and know how to work with it safely

      Asbestos only becomes a danger when fibres are airborne. Do not break or damage any material that may contain asbestos. You should only take samples if you are suitably trained.

      If you need to work with asbestos, make sure that you:

      • use hand tools, not power tools
      • keep materials damp, not too wet
      • wear a properly fitted, suitable mask, eg disposable FFP3 type - an ordinary dust mask won't be effective
      • don't smoke, eat or drink in the work area
      • double-bag asbestos waste and label the bags properly
      • clean up as you go by using a special (Class H) vacuum cleaner, not a brush
      • after work, wipe down your overalls with a damp rag or wear disposable overalls (Type 5)
      • always remove overalls before removing your mask
      • don't take overalls home to wash
      • wear boots without laces or disposable boot covers
      • put disposable clothing items in asbestos waste bags and dispose of them properly
      • don't carry asbestos into your car or home

      Find guidance on non-licensed asbestos work.

      Reduce the spread of asbestos

      If you are working with asbestos or carrying out work which may disturb asbestos, you must prevent, or reduce as far as possible, the asbestos spreading.

      During any work, you must make sure that the area and the equipment being used for the work are kept clean. Once work involving asbestos has finished, you must make sure the area where the work was carried out is thoroughly cleaned.

      Leave asbestos materials in place

      If the materials are in good condition and are unlikely to be damaged or disturbed, you should leave them in place. You must make sure the materials are properly maintained and you must monitor their condition. You should also label these materials with the asbestos warning label so that they can be easily identified.

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    • Disposing of asbestos waste

      How to correctly dispose of waste that is contaminated with asbestos

      Asbestos is hazardous and carcinogenic (a cancer-causing material). It can be very damaging to human health and the environment. It does not break down easily and remains in the environment for a long time.

      Hazardous waste

      Waste containing more than 0.1 per cent asbestos is classed as hazardous waste, and you must deal with this waste accordingly. You must not mix asbestos waste with other types of waste.

      Any waste that contains asbestos, or is contaminated with asbestos, must be double-bagged and placed in a covered, locked skip. This includes overalls, over-shoes, sampling wastes and respiratory protection equipment that have come into contact with asbestos.

      If you have any personal protective equipment (PPE) that is contaminated with asbestos, you must dispose of it as asbestos waste or clean it at a suitably equipped facility. If personal clothing becomes contaminated, you must treat it in the same way as contaminated PPE.

      If you send equipment away to be cleaned, or to be reused or disposed of, it must be packed in a suitable container and properly labelled. If you have large asbestos sheets you should not break them up. Instead, wrap them in polythene sheeting and label them.

      Labelling asbestos items

      You must clearly label raw asbestos and asbestos waste with the asbestos warning label. The label must be either firmly stuck to or directly printed onto the item or its packaging.

      Licensed contractors who dispose of asbestos-contaminated materials use red, thick plastic sacks with asbestos warnings printed on the outside.

      Storing and transporting asbestos waste

      You must store and transport raw asbestos and asbestos waste in a sealed container such as a covered, locked skip or, if more appropriate, within sealed wrapping. It must be clearly marked with the asbestos warning label to show that it contains asbestos.

      If you transport asbestos waste you must comply with the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations. These include requirements for packaging and documentation - read guidance on transporting asbestos waste.

      Asbestos disposal sites

      You must check that the site receiving your asbestos waste is authorised to receive asbestos. They should have a waste management licence or pollution prevent and control (PPC) permit - find a public register of waste management licensed sites.

      Asbestos waste must be disposed of in a landfill that has a specific permit authorising it to accept asbestos. You may be able to dispose of asbestos waste in a non-hazardous waste landfill, provided it is landfilled within a separate, self-contained cell.

      Equipment containing asbestos

      You may have old equipment that contains asbestos, such as ovens, insulating mats, fire blankets, oven gloves or ironing surfaces. Asbestos can also be found in some old brake pads and clutch linings of vehicles. When you dispose of this equipment you will need to dispose of it as asbestos waste.

      Asbestos-contaminated soil

      Asbestos-contaminated soil can be created by mixing clean soil with demolition rubble, through poor housekeeping at industrial sites or through poor waste disposal practices. You must store asbestos waste securely to avoid it spreading and causing contamination.

      Soil or other waste material that is contaminated with asbestos, or items containing asbestos, is classed as hazardous waste. You will need to dispose of it as hazardous waste.

      Asbestos pipes

      Old asbestos cement pipes remain the property of Northern Ireland Water. They should keep records of the location and condition of old asbestos cement pipes.

      You should check with Northern Ireland Water before working where old pipes may remain buried. If you or NI Water break into old asbestos cement pipes, the fragments of broken pipe and contaminated soil must be removed and dealt with as hazardous waste.

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    Generating our own renewable energy - JH Label Solutions (video)

    In this guide:

    • Benefits of using renewable energy

      The business benefits of using renewable energy such as government incentives and saving costs

      Generating and using renewable energy can help you to reduce your business' contribution to climate change and avoid using carbon intensive resources such as fossil fuels. Renewable energy also offers a wide range of other benefits to businesses, including:

      • Improving your environmental credentials and strengthening your brand - customers, investors and other stakeholders increasingly want to deal with businesses which show that they are environmentally responsible.
      • A more secure energy supply - fossil fuels won't last forever and supply is increasingly dependent on imports from overseas. Renewable energy sources are naturally occurring and won't run out.
      • Exemption from paying duty under the climate change levy - this duty is a tax on the energy used by businesses.
      • Building relationships with businesses that have similar values - for example, you may be able to work with other local organisations on a renewable energy project.
      • Stable energy costs - gas and oil price rises are reflected in customers' energy bills. Renewable energy sources are not subject to the same price rises as fossil fuels.
      • Future proofing - renewable energy use will become more widespread, with legislation already placing targets for its use in certain new developments. Switching sooner rather than later will give your business early experience of renewable energy.

      Even if your organisation's core business is not in the renewable energy sector, switching to renewable energy could still provide you with an additional revenue stream.

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    • How to generate income from renewable energy

      How to generate income from renewable energy, including export and feed-in tariffs and green energy certificates

      Generating your own renewable electricity can provide a stable energy supply for your own business' needs. It also presents an opportunity to profit from energy which you produce above your own needs. There are two potential sources of income from small-scale renewable energy generation in Northern Ireland:

      • Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs)
      • export payments

      Renewable Obligation Certificates

      ROCs provide financial support for renewable electricity generation. ROCs are part of the Northern Ireland Renewable Obligation (NIRO), the main way government encourages renewable electricity generation in Northern Ireland.

      One ROC is issued for each megawatt hour (MWh) of eligible output generated by renewables, including electricity you generate and use yourself.

      In order to be eligible to receive ROCs you must:

      • be registered with Ofgem
      • have an Ofgem-approved generation meter installed

      The number of ROCs you receive per kilowatt hour depends on the technology you use and the amount of energy you produce. Generators can sell their ROCs either directly to electricity suppliers or to ROC traders who sell on to electricity suppliers.

      The NIRO closed to new generation in March 2017 but all accredited generators before that date will receive ROCs for 20 years (to 2037).

      Find more information on NIRO and ROCs.

      Export payments for renewable energy

      If you generate more electricity than you use you may be able to sell the extra electricity back into the grid. Power NI offers an export system for small-scale generators in Northern Ireland..

      Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme

      If you invest in certain renewable energy equipment you may qualify for tax breaks called enhanced capital allowances - see first-year allowances for energy saving products.

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    • Is renewable energy right for my business?

      Assess the energy use in your business and consider your options for switching to renewable energy

      Before switching to renewable energy, make sure that you have done all you can to reduce your need for energy in the first place. This will ensure that the energy you do use has the lowest environmental impact.

      Which type of renewable energy is right for my business?

      Once you have reduced your need for energy you can consider which renewable energy options are appropriate to meet your requirements.

      If you choose to generate your own renewable energy, you will first need to select the best technology to meet your needs. You should consider factors such as:

      • your business' current energy use, including energy type, overall consumption and fluctuations in demand
      • the energy mix that you will require - some renewable energy technologies can only produce either electricity or heat, while others can generate both
      • the practical limitations of different types of renewable energy

      Once you have identified the appropriate technology, you will need to carry out a feasibility study. This will assess the practical aspects of installation, such as technical, economic and environmental performance. Feasibility studies are usually undertaken by a specialist renewable energy consultant.

      You may also find it useful to speak to:

      • other businesses who use renewable energy
      • your local council planning department
      • installers and suppliers of renewable energy technologies

      Find accredited installers and products for renewable energy sources through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

      You could become involved in a large off-site project such as a wind farm or discuss joint renewable energy projects with other local organisations.

      Buying renewable energy

      You could get your energy supply on a green tariff from a supply company that takes extra steps to reduce emissions from the gas or electricity it sells and gets a higher percentage of energy from renewable sources. Green tariffs may cost slightly more than a traditional tariff and the additional carbon benefit of green tariffs is not wholly clear.

      The need for planning permission

      Planning in Northern Ireland falls within the remit local councils. Although permitted development rights for non-domestic microgeneration have not yet been introduced, legislative proposals for the installation of a range of small scale renewable energy technologies associated with non-domestic land uses are being refined.

      Whilst permitted development rights are not yet available, your development may still go ahead provided you obtain planning permission from your local council. You should discuss your ideas with your local council planning office and obtain planning permission before undertaking any project.

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    • Advantages and disadvantages of wind energy

      In Northern Ireland wind energy is the most common renewable energy technology and it's also one of the most financially viable options.

      Wind energy is generated using turbines which capture the natural power of the wind to drive a generator. The large wind farms seen around the countryside generally supply electricity to the national grid. However, the availability of a variety of turbine types and sizes means that you can generate your own electricity supply for use onsite.

      The two main turbine types available are:

      • Free-standing turbines, which are available in a range of sizes and can be used singularly or in groups. Small free-standing turbines are already in use at businesses throughout Northern Ireland.
      • Building-mounted turbines, which are usually installed on roofs. These are not currently widely used, although new designs are beginning to appear.

      Advantages of wind energy

      • Wind turbines will work well across most of Northern Ireland. Turbines will operate from low wind speeds of about 4 metres per second (m/s) but the most successful projects are in areas with an average wind speed of 7m/s or above.
      • It is one of the most financially viable renewable energy options and this is improving as the technology develops. The payback period for large, free-standing turbines is typically four to eight years.
      • Wind energy could generate a significant proportion of your electricity needs.

      Disadvantages of wind energy

      • Wind turbine developments often meet significant local opposition at the planning stage due to their visual impact.
      • If there is no wind, the turbines don't generate any electricity. This is known as an intermittent technology. You would need a national grid connection for back-up.

      Installing a wind power development

      You must apply for planning permission from your local divisional planning office if you want to build a wind power development.

      To get planning permission you must complete an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) if:

      • you plan to construct three or more turbines
      • the hub height of any of your turbines, or any other associated structure, exceeds 15 metres

      Find information about EIAs.

      Generating wind energy in conservation areas

      If the site you want to develop is in a conservation or protected area, you must inform NIEA.

      Protected areas can include:

      • Areas of Special Scientific Interest
      • areas of outstanding natural beauty
      • special areas of conservation
      • special protection areas

      Find out if your proposed site is in or near a protected area.

      If your site has archaeological or architectural interest you must inform NIEA.

      Good practice for wind energy generation

      Wind turbines can generate noise. To limit and control noise you should:

      • use a low noise turbine design
      • monitor your turbine to make sure you are not causing a nuisance
      • locate your turbines away from the boundaries of your site

      See how to avoid causing noise pollution, odour and other nuisances.

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    • Generating biomass energy and anaerobic digestion

      Biomass energy accounts for around 85 per cent of the UK's renewable energy supply. Biomass refers to organic materials, such as wood, straw and energy crops, which can be used to generate electricity, heat and motive power. The energy is released by burning and fermentation.

      The payback period for biomass systems is generally five to 12 years, though this can be significantly shorter if free waste wood is available.

      Anaerobic digestion is another method of converting biomass into energy. In this process, organic material is broken down by bacteria, in the absence of oxygen, to create methane-rich biogas. This can then be burned to generate heat and electricity. The solid waste from the process is called digestate and can be used in a similar way to compost.

      The payback periods for anaerobic digestion plants vary widely, but could be between five and ten years.

      Advantages of biomass energy and anaerobic digestion

      • You can use waste by-products to generate energy and reduce your waste disposal costs.
      • It can be used in combination with a combined heat and power plant to generate both electricity and heat.
      • Burning biomass fuels releases lower net carbon dioxide emissions than burning coal and gas.

      Disadvantages of biomass energy and anaerobic digestion

      • You need to control emissions from burning biomass materials to prevent local air pollution. Any system you install must comply with legislation such as the Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order.
      • Storing biomass fuels can require a large amount of space.
      • It can be difficult to find a secure supply of fuel. If you intend to use by-products from your business you must ensure that suitable quantities will be available.
      • If you're having fuel delivered, you'll need to consider the environmental impact of fuel transportation.

      Complying with waste controls

      If you anaerobically digest waste to generate gas for heat or electricity you must have a pollution prevention and control permit or waste management licence.

      You must comply with waste regulations including the duty of care. If you are collecting and transporting other people's waste you will need a waste carriers licence.

      The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and the Waste & Resources Action Programme have created a quality protocol for anaerobic digestate. If you follow the protocol, you can produce a high quality digestate which can be sold without waste handling controls. For example, if it is not classed as a waste, you do not need to transport it using a waste carrier or with a waste transfer note.

      Download the quality protocol for the production and use of quality compost (PDF, 180K).

      If you use parts of animals, products of animal origin or food and catering waste you must comply with animal by-product controls.

      Prevent odour from your anaerobic digester

      You must prevent your anaerobic digester causing an odour nuisance to your neighbours. You must design your digester, storage areas and delivery areas to minimise the escape of odour and liquids.

      Reduce your digester's operating temperature and use a two-step digestion process by pasteurising your material first, to reduce odour problems.

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    • Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy generation

      Solar energy can provide both electricity and heat. It's unlikely that solar energy supply all the energy a business in Northern Ireland needs, but it can provide a significant percentage.

      Photovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight into electricity. They are available in a variety of formats including cladding, roof tiles and custom glazing. The panels are generally positioned on an unshaded, pitched roof. This allows them to receive as much sunlight as possible.

      Solar hot water systems absorb energy from the sun and transfer it, using heat exchangers, to heat water. Solar water heating can heat water to temperatures of up to 65°C. There are a variety of solar water heating collectors available, which are commonly mounted on roofs in the same way as PV panels.

      Advantages of solar energy

      • Solar water heating can be a very economical system for businesses that need large quantities of hot water, such as canteens.
      • Many people find solar panels a relatively attractive addition to a building. They also make it clear you run a sustainable business.
      • Planning permission is not always required, although you should always check with your local planning office.
      • Solar panels require little maintenance.

      Disadvantages of solar energy

      • Solar energy is an intermittent technology as it is dependent on sunlight - panels can generate some energy when conditions are cloudy but not at night.
      • Solar energy can be expensive to implement, usually with long payback periods of more than 25 years, although this is likely to be greatly reduced with incentives.
      • Fitting solar systems on existing buildings can be particularly costly. It is better to install solar energy at the build stage.
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    • Generating geothermal energy and ground source heat pumps

      Geothermal energy and ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) provide a means to access and use the heat energy that is contained naturally in the ground.

      GSHPs use underground pipes to transfer heat from the ground to the inside of a building to provide heating, hot water or cooling. Water and anti-freeze is pumped around these pipes to absorb underground heat, which is then delivered to the heat pump.

      GSHPs use a renewable heat source, but their heat exchangers must be driven by gas or electricity. They are therefore only classified as a renewable energy technology when the power used to drive them is supplied by a renewable energy source, such as a wind turbine.

      Geothermal energy can be derived from geologically suitable areas where heat from the earth's core rises to the surface as hot springs or steam. The energy can be accessed by drilling boreholes into the ground and can provide heating or hot water. In some cases it is used to drive geothermal power plants.

      Advantages of ground source heat pumps

      • You can also drive GSHPs in reverse to provide cooling.
      • GSHP technology is well established.
      • GSHPs can be used to supplement a traditional boiler system.
      • Planning permission is not always required, although you should always check with your local planning office.

      Disadvantages of ground source heat pumps

      • Installing a GSHP requires significant civil engineering works, so it is easier to install a GSHP at the build stage.
      • The initial installation of GSHPs is relatively expensive with payback periods usually more than 15 years.
      • GSHPs are not in themselves classed as a renewable energy technology. In order to be truly renewable, the power used to run them must be supplied by a renewable energy source.
      • Geothermal energy is extremely site specific.

      Environmental authorisations for closed loop pumps

      Closed loop GSHPs pump water and anti-freeze around a self-contained underground piping system. The mixture contained in the piping system absorbs the heat contained within the ground and transfers it to a building via a heat exchanger.

      You need authorisation from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to install a closed loop pump if:

      • drilling underground causes groundwater from different underground strata to mix together
      • your pump causes changes in groundwater temperature
      • your pump is at risk of causing groundwater pollution

      Environmental authorisations for open loop pumps

      Open loop GSHPs remove groundwater from an underground source.

      You should contact NIEA before you start to research whether you can install an open loop GSHP on your site.

      If you want to operate an open loop GSHP you may need permissions from NIEA such as:

      • a consent to investigate a groundwater source
      • a water abstraction licence
      • a discharge consent
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    • Generating hydroelectic power

      Hydroelectric power uses water flowing through a turbine to drive a generator which produces electricity. The faster the water is flowing and the bigger the drop, the more electricity will be generated. You can either:

      • use a water wheel or a turbine for run-of-the-river schemes which use the natural flow of the water to generate hydroelectricity
      • store water in a reservoir to be passed though an underwater turbine at pressure

      Hydropower is site specific and you should choose a scheme that suits your site and needs. The payback period for a small system is likely to be over ten years.

      Advantages of hydroelectric power

      • Hydroelectric power systems are very efficient and convert 70-90 per cent of water energy to electricity.
      • Generating hydroelectric power produces no waste.
      • Once installed, hydroelectric power systems should run for many years.
      • Hydroelectric power is a well-developed technology.

      Disadvantages of hydroelectric power

      • You may need an additional power supply available to compensate for seasonal variations in water flow.
      • Significant development work is required to install small-scale hydroelectric energy equipment.
      • You must get planning permission and may need other authorisations such as a water abstraction and/or impoundment licence.
      • Hydroelectric power is highly site specific.
      • Hydroelectric power systems require regular maintenance.

      Apply for environmental authorisations

      Even a small hydropower plant can cause water pollution, disrupt fish migration and cause ecological damage if badly designed and built.

      If you want to develop a micro-hydro power plant, you will need the correct authorisation from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). To apply, you must submit supporting information including:

      • a detailed description of the scheme design
      • the scheme location
      • the generating capacity of your scheme
      • the minimum and maximum volume of water you will abstract to generate power
      • river flow where abstraction stops
      • your scheme's impact on wildlife, river beds and river navigation
      • how you will reduce the impact on fish migration, eg providing fish passages and screens

      To develop a hydropower scheme you will need an abstraction or impoundment licence from NIEA if your scheme uses more than 20 cubic metres of water per day.

      If you place structures in any waterway that are likely to affect its drainage you must have consent from DfI Rivers.

      If you abstract water for your hydropower development you need to consult with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to make sure your scheme does not damage fisheries.

      If your scheme is in the Foyle or Carlingford catchment areas you must notify the Loughs Agency.

      Apply for planning permission

      If you want to build a hydropower plant you must apply for planning permission from your local divisional planning office at the same time you apply to NIEA.

      Generating renewable energy in conservation areas

      If you want to develop a site for hydropower that is in a conservation area or protected area, you must inform NIEA.

      Protected areas can include:

      • areas of special scientific interest
      • national parks
      • areas of outstanding natural beauty
      • special areas of conservation
      • special protection areas

      Find out if your proposed site is in or near a protected area by using these online interactive maps.

      If your site has archaeological or architectural interest you must inform NIEA.

      Carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

      If your hydropower generating capacity is above 500 kilowatts or if your development is in a protected area, you will need to carry out a formal EIA for your scheme. You must submit this to NIEA and the your local council planning office.

      Find more information about EIAs.

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    • How to switch to renewable energy

      Generating our own renewable energy - JH Label Solutions (video)

      James Hamilton Group in Lurgan dates back to the 1920s. JH Label Solutions was established to supply the market with a wide range of both plain and printed labels.

      Keith Hamilton, Managing Director of James Hamilton Group, explains how JH Label Solutions invested in a solar PV (photovoltaic) energy system. With the addition of new state of the art printing equipment, along with a growing turnover, energy costs for the company also increased.

      An Invest NI energy audit identified the potential for a solar PV installation. Keith explains how he worked with Invest NI, how the arrays were installed, the expected payback periods and the overall benefits for JH Label Solutions.

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    Environmental management systems (EMS) the basics

    In this guide:

    • Environmental management systems (EMS) the basics

      An environmental management system can boost efficiency in your business, allow you to monitor progress and meet regulatory obligations

      An environmental management system (EMS) is similar to other management systems, such as those that manage quality or safety. An EMS lets you:

      • assesses your business' strengths and weaknesses
      • identify and manage significant environmental impacts
      • save money by increasing efficiency
      • ensure you comply with environmental legislation
      • provide benchmarks for environmental improvements

      An EMS can also help you manage your resources, and improves the reliability and credibility of your environmental policy.

      Basic steps of an environmental management system

      The basic process of setting up an environmental management system is:

      Getting your environmental management system certified

      You can prove to customers that you are committed to meeting your environmental responsibilities by getting your EMS certified by a body approved by the United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS).

      There are a number of standards for environmental management to which your business can get certified:

      • BS 8555 - a British standard that provides guidance for implementing an EMS on a phase-by-phase basis which can be a good way of working towards either ISO 14001 or EMAS
      • ISO 14001 - the internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems
      • EMAS - a voluntary European scheme that provides external recognition for businesses that prove that they go further than just meeting regulatory requirements for environmental issues

      It is possible to gain and maintain both ISO 14001 certification and EMAS verification at the same time.

      For more information on the different types of environmental standard download the WRAP guide to environmental management systems (PDF, 1.6MB).

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    • Advantages and disadvantages of environmental management systems (EMS)

      Setting up an environmental management system has several advantages and disadvantages for your business to weigh up

      Setting up and running an environmental management system (EMS) has several advantages and disadvantages which you should weigh up carefully before proceeding.

      Advantages of environmental management systems

      Most advantages of environmental management systems stem from savings your business can make, increased profitability and better sales opportunities:

      • Better regulatory compliance - running an EMS will help ensure your environmental legal responsibilities are met and more easily managed on a day-to-day basis.
      • More effective use of resources - you will have policies and procedures in place that help you manage waste and resources more effectively and reduce costs.
      • Marketing - you can highlight your business' credentials as an environmentally aware operation that has made a commitment to continual environmental improvement through advertising or annual reporting.
      • Finance - you may find it easier to raise investment from banks and other financial institutions, which are increasingly keen to see businesses controlling their environmental impact.
      • Increased sales opportunities - large businesses and government departments may only deal with businesses that have an EMS.
      • Lighter regulation - even if an EMS is not a regulatory requirement, by showing your commitment to environmental management, you may benefit through less frequent site visits or reduced fees from environmental regulators.
      • Certification to recognised standards - gaining external certification of your EMS through ISO 14001, BS 8555 or EMAS can give your business credibility with customers and stakeholders.

      Disadvantages of an environmental management system

      Some disadvantages of environmental management systems can stem from cost and staff negativity:

      • Cost - the costs involved can vary considerably, however you should be able to find low-cost opportunities that will produce significant cost savings and offset the cost of implementing and operating your EMS.
      • Time and resources - an EMS should help your business to become more profitable by reducing energy consumption, waste and, therefore, costs, however it is an investment which requires you to commit time and resources.
      • Too burdensome - some businesses may be able to realise the benefits of an EMS, eg resource efficiency and cost savings, without having to operate a full EMS - or an informal system may be a better fit for your business than working to a standard like ISO 14001.
      • Management or staff resistance - an EMS can be seen as unnecessary, so you should explain the basic aims and benefits early on in the process, eg through a presentation to the management board or through your business' communications.
      • Scope - you can feel overwhelmed at the prospect of implementing an EMS across your business, however an EMS can be piloted within one part and later rolled out to other areas.
      • Training costs - some members of staff will need to have a deep knowledge of the EMS. By using guidance or following the requirements of standards such as ISO 14001, an EMS can be implemented without the need for 'expert' training.
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    • Carry out an initial environmental review (IER)

      What the initial environmental review is, its benefits, and how to carry it out

      Once you have assessed the resources needed, gained commitment and started raising awareness of the environmental management system (EMS), you should carry out an initial environmental review (IER).

      What is an initial environmental review?

      The IER is the first step in the implementation of an EMS - where a business considers all the factors affecting its 'relationship' with the environment. It should form the baseline and foundation for the other parts of your EMS.

      Your IER should enable you to:

      • identify how existing site operations have an environmental impact - eg the impact of normal operating conditions, abnormal conditions and emergency situations
      • establish which of these impacts are significant and need improvement by setting objectives and targets
      • identify breaches or potential breaches of environmental legislation
      • identify relevant EMS documentation which needs to be put in place
      • quantify emissions, discharges, and material and utility use
      • identify opportunities for improving performance and minimising waste
      • evaluate previous emergency situations and accidents
      • develop your environmental policy

      The IER will help you implement either a formal EMS - eg certified to ISO 14001 - or an informal EMS. If you already have an environmental policy, the results of the review should let you see how your current policy is performing and make any policy changes. It should also help you to draw up and implement an action plan to deal with any issues.

      Gathering data for the initial environmental review

      The main tasks involved in an IER are data gathering and analysis. You should identify which documents you will need to determine your business' environmental impacts. You should make sure they are available and make copies for future reference.

      Download a checklist of the documentation you may need for an initial environmental review (DOC, 40K).

      You should also collect the information needed for an IER of the site. This may involve walking around the site and interviewing key staff. Common areas for review include:

      • site history and issues
      • utilities
      • inventory of raw materials
      • aqueous waste
      • solid wastes

      Download a checklist of site issues to consider for an initial environmental review (DOC, 99K).

      You may also need to look at other areas of interest such as:

      • gas emissions
      • the site setting and environment
      • any other management systems already in place, eg for safety or quality
      • health and safety issues
      • materials storage and handling
      • noise and vibration

      Making use of your initial environmental review

      The IER should give you a better awareness of the environmental issues affecting your business, and so make it easier to compile a register of environmental aspects and identify relevant environmental legislation. An environmental aspect is any element of your business' activities, products or services that can interact with the environment.

      Spending more time on your IER - perhaps as much as 40 per cent of your total EMS implementation time - can save you work and time later on in the EMS process.

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    • Identify environmental aspects and legislation

      How to identify your business' environmental aspects and set up a register of relevant environmental regulations

      Identifying environmental aspects and impacts is a key part of setting up an environmental management system (EMS).

      You should start with identifying environmental aspects and impacts:

      • environmental aspect - any element of your business' activities that can interact with the environment, eg obtaining a raw material or product
      • environmental impact - an effect that an aspect has on the environment, eg natural resource depletion, damage to habitats and potential water contamination

      Identifying, understanding and recording your business' aspects and impacts will help you to comply with legislation and present opportunities to reduce your impact on the environment, minimise waste and reduce costs.

      You should use information gained during your initial environmental review to identify and compile a register of your business' environmental aspects.

      How to draw up a register of environmental aspects and impacts

      To identify your environmental aspects, you could develop flow diagrams showing the main inputs and outputs of each of your processes or activities. Aspects can be:

      When drawing up your register you could list your processes and activities, and then list environmental aspects and impacts against each one. Your register of environmental aspects should contain:

      You may find it useful to include photographs of key environmental aspects in your register. This will help you to visualise and relate specific impacts to each environmental aspect.

      How to set up a register of environmental legislation

      Increasingly strict environmental legislation is being introduced, so it is important that your business makes sure it complies with these laws. You should also be able to clearly demonstrate your compliance to regulatory authorities.

      You should produce a register of legislation for your EMS. This is a list of all relevant laws and approved codes of practice relating to your business' activities. It should also include any impending legislation that you are aware of. You do not need to hold full copies of all these documents, but the relevant people in your business must understand their requirements.

      You may also want to include which product or process the legislation or code of practice applies to, where a copy can be found, the person responsible for compliance and any related EMS procedures.

      Review your registers on a regular basis

      Your environmental aspects and their significance may change due to new legislation or the introduction of a new process in your business, so you should review your registers regularly. Reviews should occur either annually, or when:

      • projects or alterations are introduced, resulting in new or significantly modified activities
      • new information is received - eg impending relevant environmental legislation
      • new substances are introduced into the business activities
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    • Decide which environmental aspects are significant

      How to assess the importance of environmental aspects and impacts as part of your environmental management system

      In order to prioritise areas for action in your environmental management system (EMS), you need to assess which of the environmental aspects and impacts you have identified are the most significant.

      Certification bodies for EMS standards such as ISO 14001 will want to see evidence that your business has assessed its environmental aspects and impacts formally and logically. This will usually require the use of a system that rates and scores the relative significance of each.

      Even if you are not seeking formal certification, assessing the significance of environmental aspects and impacts will help you to decide what the key environmental issues are. And how to make effective use of your resources by focusing on areas of high risk or most benefit.

      Different operating conditions can have a large effect on the significance of an environmental impact. It is important you evaluate the significance of your identified environmental aspects under both normal operating conditions and other operating conditions, such as:

      • abnormal operations - eg factory start-up after a holiday shutdown
      • accidents or emergencies - eg fire
      • past activities on the site
      • planned activities

      Methods for assessing environmental significance

      There is no set approach for evaluating significance but, whatever approach you choose, it is important to record the reasons for your decision.

      A simple method is to ask whether the aspect has the potential to seriously damage the environment, whether it is controlled by legislation or if it is of concern to customers and consumers. If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then it is significant and should be managed by your EMS.

      You could develop a point scoring system by awarding a numerical score to each environmental aspect. You should consider those scoring more than an agreed amount as significant. For example, you could award each environmental aspect a score to reflect the relative importance of:

      • legislation
      • the severity of environmental damage
      • reaction of interested parties such as customers and environmental groups
      • quantity - eg the volume of the waste type

      You should multiply each of the scores by a weighting factor, which reflects the overall importance of that particular criterion at your site or business. Adding these four scores together will produce a total score for that environmental aspect for normal or other operating conditions. It is up to you to decide the threshold score for environmental significance.

      Download an example matrix for an environmental aspect scoring system (DOC, 33K).

      You should record the results of the evaluation, and the basis for your decisions regarding significance, to show that the exercise has been undertaken in a well-structured way. You should make sure that you review the significance of your environmental aspects and impacts on a regular basis.

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    • Set environmental objectives and targets

      How to set environmental aims and interim goals to continue improving your environmental management system

      When setting up an environmental management system (EMS), once you have conducted an initial environmental review and decided on areas of your environmental performance to improve, you need to set your environmental objectives and targets.

      What are environmental objectives?

      Environmental objectives are the overall aims that your business sets itself to improve environmental performance through its EMS.

      They indicate the environmental aims of your business - eg to reduce waste going to landfill by 25 per cent over five years.

      What are environmental targets?

      Environmental targets provide short-term goals on the way to achieving your overall environmental performance objectives.

      One objective can have several environmental targets - eg one target could be to reduce waste going to landfill by 10 per cent in the first year.

      Your environmental objectives and targets should be based on:

      • your environmental policy
      • information gained from your initial review
      • your register of legislation

      They should aim to address any significant environmental aspects and should incorporate specific legal requirements contained in regulations and consents.

      Creating your environmental policy

      The policy should be the guiding document in your EMS. It should clearly set out how you will manage the environmental impact of your business and should show what commitments you are prepared to make.

      It should be based on the key information from your baseline assessment and legal compliance check stages.

      There is no one perfect way to create a policy document - it will depend on the particular needs of your business. But there are some key elements you need to include, such as:

      • a commitment to continually improve your environmental performance
      • a commitment to comply with environmental legislation
      • a commitment to educate and train employees to enable them to work within the policy
      • how the policy will be implemented, managed and reviewed

      When setting environmental objectives and targets, it is important you:

      • identify the individual or department responsible for ensuring that they are met
      • identify someone to oversee the implementation of changes and check that targets are met
      • ensure that the measures taken do not indirectly create another significant environmental aspect

      Environmental management system continual improvement

      To achieve certification to a formal EMS standard such as ISO 14001, you must demonstrate that you have taken steps towards achieving set objectives and targets. You must also have a monitoring programme and keep records of your monitoring regimes.

      Although there is a requirement for continual improvement, there is no set rate at which you must improve. The requirement is merely to specify targets that are measurable and achievable. You can decide your business' continual improvement programme, taking into account the expectations of stakeholders and other interested parties.

      How to benchmark your environmental performance

      Benchmarking provides an indication of how a business' environmental performance compares with others in its sector or industry standards. If you adopt a systematic approach to improving your performance you can save money and increase your profits without having to raise prices.

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    • Operational controls and procedures

      Controls and procedures that enable your business and its environmental management system to function effectively

      Operational controls and procedures are the measures that enable a business to function. They are also the means by which you can manage environmental impacts through your environmental management system (EMS).

      Existing controls may be based on common sense and they may have been developed over a number of years. However, you are likely to need to change some controls and procedures in order to improve the environmental performance of your business.

      Make sure that you consult with the appropriate members of staff. If they are reluctant to change the way they work, you should highlight any benefits to them, the business and the environment.

      The work carried out during the initial environment review (IER), and your environmental aspects and impacts, should help you to decide which elements of your business you need to focus on. When analysing and adapting your controls and procedures you should ensure that they will enable you to meet your targets and objectives.

      You should look at what controls you need during normal conditions, abnormal conditions and emergencies. For example, if you are controlling emissions to air from a manufacturing process, you may need process controls, procedures for using monitoring equipment, and emergency plans and procedures.

      You may need to work with your suppliers and contractors, if they affect your controls and procedures, to reduce the environmental impact of your supply chain.

      Your environmental management system manual

      The EMS manual is the document that supports your EMS and describes how it operates. This is also known as an environmental management manual and forms the instructions for your business' EMS.

      The manual should provide a central point of reference for implementing and maintaining the overall system and all the operations and processes involved. It should also direct employees to other relevant documents when necessary.

      The manual is usually produced, maintained and controlled by the environmental manager or management representative.

      If you are developing the manual yourself, try to keep the system as simple as possible. The more procedures you introduce, the more you will have to audit and maintain.

      Your EMS manual can be either paper-based or electronic. A simple approach to creating an EMS manual is to follow the headings set out in a formal standard, such as ISO 14001. Under each heading briefly describe your approach to tackling that issue and then indicate the location of supporting documents like:

      • your environmental policy
      • a chart showing your business' organisational structure
      • a statement of your business' objectives and targets, and its environmental improvement programme
      • the responsibilities of employees involved in the EMS
      • documented procedures for all processes and activities that have a significant potential environmental impact
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    • EMS document control and record keeping

      Documents are an important element of an environmental management system (EMS) as they provide written evidence of procedures, records and instructions. They can also provide a history of the EMS, enabling you to check whether improvements are continuing to being made.

      Documents you are likely to need as part of your EMS include:

      • an environmental policy
      • objectives and targets
      • structure and responsibilities for those involved in environmental work in your business
      • information on how the EMS operates
      • how documents and operational procedures are controlled
      • monitoring and measurement records
      • corrective and preventive action
      • records, eg training and auditing information
      • management review decisions

      Your documents can be in either electronic or paper format. But whichever format you choose, you should ensure that they:

      • are available for easy reference at all times
      • are clear and unambiguous
      • are updated and that people use the latest versions
      • show who has responsibility for investigating and fixing problems

      You should consider how documents are updated, who updates them, how you ensure people look at the most up-to-date version and what happens to old versions. If you have a quality management system - such as ISO 9000 - you should already have document control procedures in place and can follow quality management standards.

      It is important to provide relevant employees with detailed instructions on how to operate processes that could have a significant environmental aspect.

      Download a sample template for documenting an environmental management system procedure (DOC, 37K).

      It is easy to have too many documents. You should only provide documents if their absence might result in a negative impact on the environment or prevent your EMS from functioning properly.

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    • Communicating your environmental management system (EMS)

      How to communicate information to encourage employee motivation and input into the environmental management system

      Clearly explaining your environmental management system (EMS) to your employees is vital. The more involved your staff are, the more committed they will be - making it easier to operate your system effectively.

      Although you should keep all staff up to date, some employees will need more information about environmental issues than others. This will depend on the area they work in and how much responsibility they have.

      Employees should have enough knowledge of the issues and commitments affecting their work activities to allow them to carry out their EMS objectives.

      Motivating staff and encouraging employee input

      As people often see environmental issues in global terms, it can take time for employees to appreciate the impacts of their working practices. So it's a good idea to explain the implications for the business if procedures aren't followed.

      It is essential:

      Internal communication about your environmental management system

      To ensure effective internal communication, you should:

      • inform employees in advance about the EMS and encourage them to start thinking about the part they can play
      • keep employees updated throughout the process - eg by using an environmental noticeboard, internal emails or memos, meetings, your intranet or team briefings
      • ask employees for their ideas - those doing a job every day often have ideas about how things can be done more efficiently
      • be open - provide both good and bad feedback
      • make sure employees understand and see the value of EMS procedures through suitable training
      • set up frequent environmental management team meetings

      Contractors, suppliers and external stakeholders and your EMS

      Contractors and suppliers form part of your EMS and should be given a copy of your environmental policy. You should also make contractors aware of any environmental issues at your site.

      If the contractor's duties require a higher degree of awareness, you should provide a contractor training session. This could include a short introduction to business procedures and requirements, and a presentation highlighting environmental issues on site.

      Ask contractors to sign a form acknowledging that they have received the information, as external certification requires documented evidence that training procedures are in place.

      You could provide information about your EMS to external stakeholders by providing information on your business website and in an environmental report.

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      • Review your environmental management system (EMS)

        Managing review, audit and continual improvement to create a successful environmental management system

        An effective environmental management system (EMS) requires monitoring and updating. If you don't, the policy that guides it may become out of date and ineffective.

        If you want external certification of your EMS, you will need to show that you are reviewing and improving your EMS on a regular basis.

        Scheduling and managing reviews of your environmental management system

        By establishing clear internal auditing systems you can ensure that the measures contained in your policy are being implemented on a day-to-day basis. There are no specific rules you must follow, but you need to have in place:

        • procedures that monitor the overall effectiveness of your EMS
        • mechanisms that keep an eye on your targets and objectives
        • clear definitions of reporting and management responsibilities
        • regularly scheduled reviews of the procedures and practices that underpin your EMS

        To ensure these are being carried out effectively, you must have commitment from your management team.

        It's also sensible to incorporate your EMS into your other management processes, such as health and safety and quality control. It makes day-to-day management easier and helps communicate your policies to staff.

        Acting on the results of your EMS review

        When you review your EMS, you'll probably uncover more effective ways to do things as a result. Make sure you communicate the results of the reviews to staff. As a minimum, you should provide them with updated documentation, but it's a good idea to run group training sessions or one-to-one meetings to ensure the changes and improvements are understood and acted upon.

        Completing the EMS cycle

        Reviewing your EMS is something you should try to do on a regular basis. Once the review is complete and staff and systems have been updated, schedule the next major review well in advance to ensure the policy doesn't slip off the radar and lose effectiveness.

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      • Top tips for operating an environmental management system (EMS)

        Top tips for successful implementation and continued operation of an environmental management system in your business

        Setting up and running an environmental management system (EMS) can bring your business many benefits, but can also put a strain on resources. Here's our top tips to getting the implementation of an EMS right.

        1. Start from the top

        To give your EMS the best chance of being efficient and successful, you need to ensure the management of your business is committed to improving and managing environmental issues. There are a number of benefits you can consider in order to persuade management of the benefits of running an EMS, including cost reduction, compliance with environmental legislation, better management of risk and significant marketing benefits.

        2. Set a robust baseline

        The process of setting up an EMS starts with a baseline assessment of where your business stands now, in terms of environmental management. You could benchmark your business' environmental performance against similar operations to assess where you stand. It's essential to analyse all your business processes, stage by stage, to uncover where strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are posed to good environmental management.

        3. Set clear management roles

        It's essential to define management responsibilities clearly for each area of your policy. For example, make it clear who is responsible for meeting any waste targets and who is responsible for monitoring the financial impact of the policy's implementation. Delegating specific responsibilities - and ensuring the management team is aware of these responsibilities - will significantly boost the policy's chances of success.

        4. Invest in training and awareness

        All of your staff need to be aware of the purpose of your EMS and environmental policy, and their role within it. It's a good idea to run training sessions, so that every member of staff knows what is expected of them - and why. Refresher training - eg on an annual basis - means you can communicate changes, while building awareness into induction plans means new staff will be on board with your policy from the start.

        5. Keep the plan on track

        It's a good idea to consider using 'champions' to raise awareness of your EMS and its operational controls. This can create more honest and effective communication between management and employees on issues related to your EMS. If you appoint a champion, you must ensure they are given complete management support in this role otherwise they will be undermined and their effectiveness diminished.

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      What is radioactive waste?

      In this guide:

      • What are radioactive materials?

        Radioactive material includes substances or articles that are radioactive, or have become radioactive through non-natural processes, for example at a nuclear reactor.

        There are two main types of radioactive substances:

        • open radioactive sources, also called unsealed sources
        • sealed radioactive sources, also called closed sources

        Radioactive materials are used by many organisations and businesses. For example, hospitals, research organisations, radiographers and process industries use radioactive materials for:

        • diagnosing and treating disease
        • controlling industrial processes
        • preventing static electricity
        • industrial radiography
        • scientific research

        Different types of radioactive material are used for different activities.

        Open radioactive sources

        Open sources are radioactive materials that you can easily divide, disperse or dilute. They can be in a liquid, gaseous or sometimes solid form. Open sources include radioactive laboratory chemicals and radiopharmaceuticals.

        Open radioactive sources can potentially contaminate other material through leakage or leaching. You must store all open radioactive sources securely.

        Sealed radioactive sources

        Sealed sources have a structure which prevents radioactive material from leaking during normal use. If you use sealed sources incorrectly you could cause radioactive contamination.

        Sealed radioactive sources are categorised according to their hazard or risk as:

        • high activity sealed sources (HASS)
        • sources of similar potential hazard to HASS
        • category 5 (low hazard or risk)

        A sealed source may take the form of a welded steel capsule, or a homogenous, laminated, electrodeposited or foil source.

        HASS present a greater hazard to the environment and human health than other sealed sources. HASS may include sterilisation sources, hospital radiotherapy sources, industrial radiography sources, density and moisture gauges and some industrial process control gauges.

        Mobile radioactive apparatus

        Mobile radioactive apparatus includes equipment, appliances or other things that are portable and classed as radioactive material. They may be used for:

        • testing, measuring or investigation
        • releasing radioactive material into the environment or introducing it into organisms

        Mobile radioactive apparatus may contain sealed or open radioactive sources.

        You must have a certificate of registration if you use or keep mobile radioactive apparatus, unless you are covered by an exemption.

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      • What is radioactive waste?

        Radioactive waste is anything that your business discards, intends to discard or is required to discard which contains radioactive material.

        Radioactive waste can be in a solid, liquid or gaseous form.

        There are four types of radioactive waste:

        1. high-level radioactive waste that contains levels of radioactivity so high that heat is generated, eg waste created by reprocessing spent nuclear fuel
        2. intermediate-level radioactive waste that contains more radioactivity than low-level waste but without the heat generation that occurs in high-level waste, eg redundant sealed sources
        3. low-level radioactive waste that is within specified concentrations of radioactivity, eg everyday items such as paper or plastics contaminated by radioactivity
        4. very low-level radioactive waste that is below a specific concentration of radioactivity, eg laboratory and medical equipment used to handle radioactive material

        Radioactive waste may include items contaminated by radioactive material or other radioactive waste, such as:

        • clothing that needs to be disposed of
        • laboratory wastes from the use of open radioactive material
        • a sealed source which is scrap

        Radioactive substances users at non-nuclear sites are only likely to produce very low-level or low-level radioactive waste.

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      • Registration, authorisation and exemptions for radioactive substances

        Certificates of registration and authorisation are used to control radioactive substance activities at non-nuclear sites.

        You must have a certificate of registration from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) if you keep or use radioactive materials. You must register:

        • open or unsealed sources on your premises
        • closed or sealed sources on your premises
        • mobile apparatus incorporating a sealed radioactive source
        • mobile apparatus (open sources) for use in environmental studies
        • radioactive packages stored in transit

        You must have a certificate of authorisation from NIEA if you dispose of or accumulate radioactive waste. Accumulating radioactive waste includes storing radioactive waste on your premises. Disposing of radioactive waste includes discharging radioactive waste into the air, land, sea, surface water (such as rivers and lakes), groundwater or foul sewers. You are also disposing of radioactive waste if you transfer it to another site.

        You must not use or keep radioactive materials, or dispose of or accumulate radioactive waste, before you receive your certificate of registration or authorisation. If you are unsure whether you need a certificate of registration or authorisation for radioactive substance activities, you should contact NIEA.

        Exemptions from registration or authorisation

        You do not need a certificate of registration or authorisation if an exemption applies to your activities. The exemption specifies the types of premises, materials or waste which do not need a permit.

        If you rely on an exemption you are responsible for checking that:

        • the exemption applies to your activities
        • you can comply with the conditions of the relevant exemption

        You do not need to register your exemption with NIEA.

        Contact a suitable radiation protection adviser, radioactive waste adviser or NIEA if you are unsure whether your activities are covered by an exemption.

        This guidance is not intended for radioactive waste disposal sites, underground storage or disposal facilities, or nuclear licensed sites.

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      • Applying for a certificate for radioactive substances

        You must complete an application form for the type of radioactive substance you have and pay an application fee to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

        Find radioactive substance registration and authorisation application forms.

        You can also find information on radioactive substance fees and charges.

        Disposing of radioactive waste can be very expensive so make sure that you can afford these costs before you apply for a certificate of authorisation.

        It can take the NIEA up to four months to process application forms.

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      • Complying with your certificate for radioactive substances

        You must comply with the conditions in your certificate of registration or authorisation. Conditions control the impact your radioactive substance activities could have on the environment and human health.

        The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) will carry out site inspections, conduct audits and review information it receives about your site to make sure you are complying with your certificate of registration or authorisation.

        You can be fined, or even sent to prison, if you do not comply with the terms of your certificate of registration or authorisation.

        Comply with your certificate of registration or authorisation conditions

        The conditions in your certificate of registration or authorisation will depend on what radioactive substances you keep and what activities you carry out at your site. Your certificate of registration or authorisation may contain conditions that relate to:

        • managing your site activities
        • what activities are permitted on your site
        • operating your site, such as site security and safe storage
        • high activity sealed radioactive sources (HASS)
        • transferring radioactive sources
        • receiving radioactive waste
        • accumulating radioactive waste, including accumulation limits
        • disposing of radioactive waste safely and securely, including appropriate disposal routes
        • keeping records, reporting and making notifications

        For example, if you store radioactive substances the conditions in your certificate of registration or authorisation might require you to:

        • prevent unauthorised persons from accessing the radioactive substances
        • take measures to prevent loss of, theft of or damage to the radioactive substances
        • maintain the radioactive substances and any associated containers and equipment in good repair
        • ensure the radioactive store is labelled clearly and correctly

        If your business keeps or uses HASS, disposes of HASS or holds sealed sources with a similar level of potential hazard, your certificate of registration or authorisation will contain additional conditions to protect people and the environment. For example, you must comply with additional site security arrangements. There are also special reporting requirements and additional financial requirements for HASS.

        You must display a copy of your certificate of registration or authorisation on your business premises, unless it relates to sealed radioactive sources or it is otherwise subject to national security restrictions.

        How compliance is enforced

        The NIEA has a range of enforcement tools to ensure that businesses comply with radioactive substances legislation. They will take enforcement action that is appropriate for the severity of the non-compliance. Enforcement action includes verbal and written warnings, enforcement notices, prohibition notices and prosecution with the possibility of a fine or prison.

        An enforcement notice may be issued if you breach the conditions of your certificate of registration or authorisation. A prohibition notice is issued if there is an imminent risk of serious pollution or harm to human health.

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        • Other radioactive substances regulation

          If you handle radioactive substances you may have to comply with other legislation in addition to complying with your certificate of registration or authorisation.

          Importing and exporting radioactive substances

          If you are importing or exporting radioactive materials or waste, you must contact the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to find out what you need to do.

          The Export Control Organisation at the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills is responsible for legislating, assessing and issuing export and trade licences for specific categories of controlled goods, including certain radioactive sources - see our section on the Export Control Organisation.

          Health and safety requirements

          If your business uses or keeps radioactive substances you may need to comply with health and safety requirements - see HSENI radiation guidance.

          Transport requirements

          If your business transports radioactive substances you may need to comply with transport requirements - find information about transporting class 7 dangerous good.

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          Radioactive substances guidance
          HSENI radiation guidance
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          Duty of care for business waste
          Control of major accident hazards (COMAH)
          Contaminated land
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        Avoiding carbon credit scams

        In this guide:

        • How to cut carbon emissions from energy use

          Reducing energy use is one of the simplest ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your business and help reduce the effects of climate change.

          All businesses can reduce their energy use, benefitting the environment and their bottom line. Saving energy can also have other benefits, including boosting employees' morale and an improved business reputation.

          There are many changes your business can make to cut carbon emissions from energy use. Find ways to reduce energy use in your business on the Carbon Trust website.

          The changes you make can be as small as turning electrical equipment off overnight or changing your light bulbs to energy-efficient ones. Traditional light bulbs can waste up to 95 per cent of the energy they use as heat. Energy-efficient bulbs are up to 80 per cent more efficient than traditional bulbs and each bulb could save you up to £40 over its lifetime. As part of the effort to reduce emissions, inefficient light bulbs are being phased out. Read about the ongoing phase out of inefficient light bulbs on the Energy Saving Trust website.

          You may want to consider larger measures where the financial benefits are more long term, such as investing in new energy-saving plant or machinery.

          You may also be eligible for tax breaks, if you invest in certain energy-saving equipment. See the page in this guide on tax breaks to encourage energy efficiency.

          Buildings can be a major contributor to carbon emissions, often through inefficient energy use. See the page in this guide on how to cut carbon emissions from business buildings.

          For information on reducing energy use in your business, read our guide on how to save money by using energy more efficiently.

          Actions
          Light bulb phase out summary on the Energy Saving Trust website
          Energy and carbon reduction advice on the Carbon Trust website
          Also on this site
          Save money by using energy more efficiently
          Supply chain efficiency
          Ecodesign in product and service development
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          Efficiency and environment

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        • How to cut carbon emissions from business travel

          Cut your carbon emissions from business travel by reducing journeys and making better travel decisions

          Transport is a significant - and growing - cause of carbon emissions. Some businesses, such as those in the transport sector, will be able to cut carbon emissions to a larger extent than others, but there are actions that all businesses can take.

          The first step in cutting your CO2 emissions is to evaluate the impact of your business travel on the environment. This includes:

          • travel to and from meetings and other out-of-office appointments - whether this is by car, plane or train
          • journeys that employees make to and from work
          • the way your business makes and receives deliveries

          The Carbon Trust can help you work out the carbon footprint of your business, including the impact of business travel, and give free advice on cutting carbon emissions. Find a carbon footprint calculator on the Carbon Trust website.

          Once you have examined your business travel, the next step is to look at ways to reduce or minimise the impact of these journeys. You might consider encouraging your employees to:

          • book several appointments in the same area on the same day
          • work from home
          • use methods of transport with less environmental impact, such as walking, cycling and trains
          • use low-emission vehicles and alternatively powered vehicles
          • drive vehicles more efficiently

          If you transport goods as part of your business, you should ensure that you do this in the most efficient way.

          For further information on reducing the environmental impact of your business travel, see our guides on workplace travel planning and reducing your vehicle emissions.

          Actions
          Sustainable transport options on the Travelwise Northern Ireland website
          Carbon footprint calculators on the Carbon Trust website
          Also on this site
          Reducing your vehicle emissions
          Workplace travel planning
          Save money by using energy more efficiently
          Supply chain efficiency
          Employees working from home
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        • How to cut carbon emissions from business buildings

          The measures you can take to cut the carbon emissions from your business buildings

          Buildings are responsible for around 40 per cent of the UK's carbon emissions, with business properties accounting for around half of that.

          There are plenty of simple, low-cost measures you can take to cut energy use within your buildings and lower CO2 emissions. These include installing movement-sensitive light sensors in toilets and other little-used areas and turning down the thermostat by a couple of degrees. See our guide on how to save money by using energy more efficiently.

          There may be additional things you can do - such as installing double-glazing and improving roof insulation - to help make buildings more airtight. Find guidelines on the energy performance of buildings.

          Energy efficient building regulations

          If you are having new premises built, or you are making structural changes to your existing premises, you must make sure they meet the requirements of Part F of the Building Regulations. Read about the conservation of fuel and power under building regulations.

          All commercial buildings require an energy performance certificate (EPC) when they are bought, let or sold. An EPC indicates how energy efficient a building and its services are. An EPC also contains recommendations for cost-effective changes that can be made to improve the building's energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions. See our guide on energy performance of buildings duties: an overview.

          You must make sure you comply with the requirements of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. These include getting your air-conditioning systems regularly inspected and obtaining an energy performance certificate when you construct, sell or rent buildings.

          You may be eligible for a number of tax breaks if you introduce energy efficiency measures. See the page in this guide on tax breaks to encourage energy efficiency.

          Actions
          EPC guidance
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          Reducing your vehicle emissions
          Save money by using energy more efficiently
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          Ecodesign in product and service development
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        • How to source and design low-carbon products

          How to design and find supplies of low-carbon products and materials to benefit the environment and attract new customers

          Designing your products and services so that they produce less carbon is not only good for the environment, it will also make them more appealing to more environmentally-aware customers.

          It can also help your business to win contracts, such as government tenders, where the use of environmentally-aware suppliers is encouraged.

          Low carbon goods and the product life-cycle

          To make low carbon goods, you need to consider environmental impact at every stage of your product's life-cycle.

          The stages to consider include:

          Consider the total impact your products or services have on the environment with a life cycle assessment and find out more about low carbon development with ecodesign for goods and services.

          You can calculate the carbon footprint of your products - and identify areas for improvement - using the environmental standard PAS 2050. There can be a real commercial advantage to adopting the standard, as it can help your customers to make more informed purchasing decisions.

          Sourcing low carbon supplies and materials

          Using suppliers of low-carbon products can have more benefits than just helping your business become more environmentally responsible. It can also show stakeholders - such as investors, employees and customers - that you are taking your environmental responsibilities seriously.

          Even a simple step of buying products from local suppliers can cut down on the distance they are transported. Your local enterprise agency or trade association may also be able to help you find local suppliers of low carbon products.

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          Interreg low carbon projects and ideas
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          Ecodesign in product and service development
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        • Tax breaks to encourage energy efficiency

          Understand the tax breaks available for using cleaner energy and energy-efficient vehicles, plant and machinery

          Tax breaks are on offer as an incentive to encourage you to adopt certain environmentally-responsible practices. For example:

          • Using sources of energy that have less environmental impact can make your business eligible for a reduction in the climate change levy.
          • You can benefit from investing in energy saving plant and machinery through tax breaks called enhanced capital allowances (ECAs).
          • You can also use ECAs for investing in company cars that have low CO2 emissions.
          • Encouraging staff and business travel by sustainable methods can attract certain tax benefits - see workplace travel planning.

          If your business is in an energy-intensive sector, you may need to have an emissions trading permit.

          Actions
          Capital allowance guidance for low-emission cars on the HM Revenue & Custom…
          Energy saving technology search on the ECA website
          Also on this site
          Enhanced Capital Allowances for efficient technologies
          Save money by using energy more efficiently
          Reducing your vehicle emissions
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        • Purchasing carbon offsets

          Offsetting the carbon emissions that you can't help producing and checking the quality of carbon offset products

          Your business should measure and, where possible, avoid and reduce emissions. This can also help your business save energy and money in the longer term. However, there are emissions that cannot be avoided, and you may wish to balance the impact of such emissions through the purchase of carbon offsets.

          Offsetting involves paying someone, somewhere else, to save emissions equivalent to those you have produced. These emissions savings - or 'carbon credits' - come from a variety of projects in a number of different countries. However, you should remember that offsetting alone will not necessarily make your company carbon neutral.

          How can you check the quality of offset products?

          To help you choose good quality offsets make sure you use an offset provider that can:

          • calculate your emissions accurately
          • deliver credits within a year of your buying them
          • declare clearly how much the credits cost per tonne
          • provide you with information about the role of offsetting in tackling climate change and advice on how to reduce your carbon footprint

          If you intend to purchase carbon offsets, you should take the time to check that you are confident that the offsets represent real, independently verified emission reductions or offer other benefits - such as environmental or social - that you would like to support.

          Becoming carbon neutral

          Many businesses want to become carbon neutral - ie to reduce or offset their emissions so that their total net emissions are zero. The business benefits of this include:

          • demonstrating a clear commitment to tackle climate change
          • engaging employees and consumers on environmental issues

          Under the government's definition, becoming carbon neutral involves three stages:

          • calculating emissions - determining which emissions you're going to calculate, and collecting activity data on these
          • reducing emissions - assessing what reductions you can make and deciding how to achieve this
          • offsetting residual emissions - acquiring carbon credits to offset any emissions you can't reduce

          The British Standards Institute (BSI) has also developed a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2060 on carbon neutrality. You can find PAS 2060 to buy online on the BSI website.

          Actions
          Carbon footprint calculators on the Carbon Trust website
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          Save money by using energy more efficiently
          Reducing your vehicle emissions
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        • Calculate and communicate your organisational carbon footprint

          Guidance on measuring your organisational carbon footprint and communicating it internally and externally

          Calculating a basic carbon footprint that includes the main emission sources is straightforward.

          How to calculate your organisational carbon footprint

          There are five key steps to follow to calculate your organisational footprint. These are:

          1. Decide on the method to follow - a consistent method will help to ensure an accurate result.
          2. Define the organisational and operational boundaries - the operational boundary determines which emission sources you will quantify, so it's important to be realistic when choosing it.
          3. Collate the data - you'll need to collate consumption data for all the emission sources within your chosen boundary.
          4. Apply emissions factors - you'll find the latest emissions factors on the DEFRA website.
          5. Verify the results - this is optional, but it adds credibility to your calculation.

          If you have taken action to reduce your carbon footprint you may want to verify this. This is optional, but independent certification will add credibility to your reduction claims.

          Communicate your carbon footprint internally and externally

          Communicating your carbon footprint externally demonstrates that you are concerned about the impact that your business has on the environment. This is important to customers, investors and trading partners and can give your business a competitive edge.

          You might want to have your footprint verified by a third party if you're going to publish it externally. This gives stakeholders confidence in your data. You'll need to provide full details of the steps you followed to calculate your footprint and be open about the impact any business changes might have had.

          Telling your employees about the business's carbon footprint helps to involve them in carbon reduction and management. It also encourages them to make further savings if you explain the difference their energy-saving efforts make.

          If you make year-on-year reductions in your footprint you can certify your reductions on the Carbon Trust Standard website.

          Developed with
          Carbon Trust
          Actions
          Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors on the DEFRA website
          Carbon footprinting guidance on the Carbon Trust website
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          Managing your energy use
          Monitoring and metering your energy use
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        • Avoiding carbon credit scams

          Carbon credits are financial instruments which permit the holder to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide. These can be traded if the emission allowance is not used.

          Carbon markets are not intended for personal investors - if you buy carbon credits for money, you can fall prey to rogue traders and be unable to recoup your investment. Scammers can also use uncertainty around carbon markets to deceive businesses into handing over money.

          What is a carbon credit scam?

          Your business may be contacted by someone offering:

          • carbon credit certificates
          • voluntary emission reductions (VERs)
          • certified emission reductions (CERs)
          • a 'green' scheme or project that generates carbon credits as a return on investment

          Such scheme do operate legitimately, however certification is voluntary and involves a wide range of bodies and different quality standards that are not recognised by any UK compensation scheme. 

          Projects generating carbon credits are usually based overseas so UK authorities have no way of controlling the quality or validity of the schemes.

          You should be wary of any scheme which offer green products and services as financial investments. Many businesses have reported they can't sell or trade their carbon credits, and have lost any money they've invested.

          Fraudsters can also attempt to pressure businesses into buying non-existent 'green' products through deception. Some contact businesses using the name "Carbon Registry" as part of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). They will attempt to convince you to buy carbon credits, VERs or CERs at high prices under the threat of government enforcement or legal action.

          How to protect your business from carbon credit scams

          Always be wary if you're contacted out of the blue, pressured to invest quickly or promised returns that sound too good to be true.

          It is important to know that carbon credits, emissions trading and such "green investment schemes" are not currently regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Even if an FCA-authorised firm is involved in the sale of carbon credits you have no right to redress or compensation if something goes wrong. You should always get independent professional advice before making any investment.

          If you are contacted by someone claiming to work in a government department and applying pressure, take their details and contact the department through their main telephone number or contact form. You can find UK government department contact details on GOV.UK and contact details for Northern Ireland government departments on nidirect.

          How to report carbon credit scams

          If you have any concerns about a suspected investment scam, contact the FCA on Tel. 0800 111 6768 or by using their scam reporting form.

          If the scam involves someone claiming to represent a government body such as DECC, you should contact the PSNI directly on Tel. 101 (the non-emergency number) or online through Action Fraud.

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          GOV.UK advice on carbon credit scams
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        Installing an efficient heating system - Marine Hotel (video)

        In this guide:

        • Benefits of improving heating system efficiency

          Heating and hot water costs can account for half of a business' energy costs and half its carbon emissions. You can maintain or improve the efficiency of your heating system by using it economically. For example, by turning down your heating just 1°C, you can cut your annual heating costs by up to 8 per cent - see using heating equipment efficiently.

          By developing your knowledge of energy efficiency, you can make more cost-effective choices when it comes to replacing or upgrading your system - see installing efficient heating and hot water equipment.

          Using less energy will reduce your business' carbon footprint and help limit climate change - see cutting your carbon emissions.

          Being an energy-efficient business can also help attract customers, employees and investors - see how to market your environmental credentials.

          Energy efficient businesses should be better prepared to comply with existing and new legislation. For example, if you propose to carry out building work on a building greater than 1,000 square metres, you may need to comply with building regulation conditions relating to the efficiency of your heating and hot water system.

          You can find guidelines for the energy performance of buildings on the Department of Finance (DoF) website.

          Help
          Invest NI Helpline
          Actions
          Heating, ventilation and air conditioning advice
          Invest NI support to manage business energy issues
          Also on this site
          Improve your environmental performance
          Save money by using energy more efficiently
          Market your environmental credentials
          Cutting your carbon emissions
          Content category
          Efficiency and environment

          Source URL

          /content/benefits-improving-heating-system-efficiency

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        • Installing efficient heating and hot water equipment

          Whether you are investing in a new heating and hot water system for your building, or upgrading an old one, you should make sure your equipment is energy efficient.

          When constructing or altering a building, you must ensure that any new heating equipment meets or exceeds the energy efficiency targets in Part F of the Building Regulations. 

          It may be more efficient to install additional small boilers for use in the summer months. For example, installing a separate water heater will help you save money by letting you switch off the main boiler system during the summer.

          Various types of energy-efficient equipment are available, including:

          • advanced metering systems
          • optimiser thermostats
          • zone controls for space heating
          • sequencing controls
          • heat recirculating units to recycle warm air in roof spaces

          Renewable energy systems, such as solar water heating and wood-fuelled boilers, are another way of increasing building energy efficiency. They can also help you reduce your business' carbon emissions - see how to generate your own renewable energy.

          You can get advice on the best type of equipment for your premises from the Carbon Trust. Alternatively, you can contact specialist associations, such as the Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association (HVCA) or the Council of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI).

          Help
          Invest NI Helpline
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        • Energy assessments for heating and hot water systems

          You could save energy and money by arranging a regular energy assessment of your building's heating system efficiency. This should focus on:

          • Boiler selection and system design - do you have the right type of boiler, and are your heating and hot water systems optimised for your property?
          • System controls - are they working properly?

          It is recommended that you have your system assessed if it has a capacity of more than 20 kilowatts, or is more than 15 years old.

          After the assessment, your engineer will give you:

          • an energy efficiency checklist
          • an efficiency comparison of your existing system compared with a new one
          • an assessment as to whether your system is the right size for your building

          You can find an accredited energy assessor by contacting specialist organisations such as the Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association (HVCA) or the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

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          Heating, ventilation and air conditioning advice
          Invest NI support to manage business energy issues
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          Efficiency and environment

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        • How to use heating equipment efficiently

          To get the most out of your heating and hot water systems, it is recommended that you arrange for an energy assessment of your equipment - see energy assessments for heating and hot water systems.

          Ways to use heating equipment more efficiently

          You can increase heating system efficiency yourself by taking simple steps, such as:

          • setting timer controls to operate heating only when people are present in the building and activate 'frost protection' at weekends and during holidays
          • ensuring the hot water is not heated too much - water only needs to be heated to between 60 and 65°C to protect against legionella bacteria
          • checking your heating bills regularly - this will help you spot any sudden increases in energy use, which may be caused by changes in the way a building is used

          You should also make sure you:

          • don't turn up heating unless you really need to
          • leave plenty of space around radiators
          • don't heat unused space
          • keep doors and windows closed, and draught-proof, in cold weather
          • ensure thermostats are not near draughts or hot and cold spots
          • don't put hot equipment, such as photocopiers, near cooling vents
          • maintain equipment properly
          • have enough insulation around your hot water and HVAC systems, including; boilers, pipes, tanks and ductwork
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        • How to maintain heating systems effectively

          Regular maintenance of your heating and hot water system helps you maximise its efficiency, improve workplace safety and extend the lifespan of your system.

          Heating system maintenance

          Professional servicing and maintenance checks on your heating system should cover:

          • combustion efficiency
          • running repairs
          • limescale checks
          • advice to owners
          • replacing worn or defective parts, such as boilers, water heaters, pumps and air heaters

          You can carry out regular simple maintenance checks, such as:

          • setting outlet louvres correctly for warm-air systems
          • cleaning reflectors for radiant heaters
          • keeping air vents clean
          • checking for leaks

          You should also monitor gas flues for efficiency, temperature and chimney conditions.

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        • Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems

          Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems control the temperature, humidity and air quality in buildings, according to a set of chosen conditions. They do this by transferring heat and moisture in and out of the air and by controlling the level of air pollutants by directly removing them or by diluting them to acceptable levels.

          HVAC systems vary widely in size and function. If they were designed and installed during the building's construction, they will be larger and a key component of the centralised building services. They will use ventilation to deliver both heating and cooling to the building.

          Other systems provide heating through boilers and radiators, with some limited ventilation to provide fresh air or cooling to certain parts of the building.

          In many buildings, individual comfort cooling units have been added to address a specific overheating problem that didn't exist originally or wasn't apparent at the time of the original design. For example, the huge increase in the use of computers, which generate a lot of heat, has meant that many older buildings now need additional cooling or ventilation. Comfort cooling units are the most common method of providing cooling to a building when the need arises.

          Energy consumption of HVAC systems

          There are five important factors that determine the energy use of an HVAC system. These are the:

          • design, layout and operation of the building - this affects how the external environment impacts on internal temperatures and humidity
          • required indoor temperature and air quality - more extreme temperatures, greater precision and more refined air quality are all factors which lead to the HVAC plant consuming more energy
          • heat generated internally by lighting, equipment and people
          • design and efficiency of the HVAC plant - which provides heat, cooling and moisture control exactly where it is needed in the building
          • operating times of the HVAC equipment and functionality of the controls - these limit operation to exactly when the system is needed

          One of the best ways to control the cost of using HVAC equipment is to reduce the need to use it initially. It's important to first take energy-saving measures such as insulation and draught-proofing around your building. Simple measures such as window blinds can reduce the amount of heat entering a building and reduce the need for cooling. Room or zone controls and thermostats allow people control over their immediate environment, although it may be necessary to reset controls to a default setting each day.

          Other opportunities for saving energy include:

          • the use of passive heating, ventilation and cooling
          • night cooling - when cool air passes through a building overnight to remove heat that has built up through the day

          Refurbishment and hardware opportunities

          If you are refurbishing or putting in a new HVAC system it is worth using the most efficient system available.

          The more efficient the HVAC system is, the less expensive it is to run, which is an important consideration as the day-to-day running costs are far greater than the initial costs of installation.

          When choosing an HVAC system you should:

          • choose the system that is best suited to your needs
          • prioritise energy efficiency in the design and installation stages
          • implement and maintain good system controls
          • set up and maintain the system effectively and consider a maintenance contract

          Enhanced capital allowances for energy-saving equipment

          The enhanced capital allowance (ECA) tax relief scheme can be used to buy certain HVAC zone controls. These allow the conditions in a specific area or zone to be independently controlled rather than a whole building being heated or cooled to the same temperature. As a result, zone controls can contribute to energy savings.

          You can also read about how to claim an ECA for listed energy saving products.

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        • Checking boiler efficiency

          Heating engineers checking commercial and domestic boiler efficiency can get useful information from several sources, including the:

          • Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK (SEDBUK) boiler efficiency database
          • Council of Registered Gas Installers
          • Institute of Domestic Heating and Environmental Engineers (IDHEE)
          • Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association

          Efficiency ratings (domestic installations)

          The energy efficiency of boilers intended for domestic use is rated in bands:

          • A - 90 per cent and above
          • B - 86-90 per cent
          • C - 82-86 per cent
          • D - 78-82 per cent
          • E - 74-78 per cent
          • F - 70-74 per cent
          • G - below 70 per cent

          Boiler efficiency database (domestic installations)

          To check the efficiency of a particular model of domestic boiler, you can consult the boiler efficiency database. This contains efficiency data for current boiler models, and is updated monthly.

          Efficiency ratings (non-domestic installations)

          Detailed guidance on the minimum acceptable performance of heating, cooling, ventilation and hot water systems is available - you can download the non-domestic heating, cooling and ventilation compliance guide (PDF, 170K).

          The guide also specifies the minimum acceptable performance of other forms of commercial heating, such as warm air, radiant and heat pump systems.

          Boiler checklists

          Step-by-step checklists for monitoring boiler energy efficiency are available online for:

          Gas boilers and space heaters below 100 kilowatts should be assessed every four years. Oil-fired or solid-fuel boilers, and space heaters larger than 100 kilowatts, should be assessed every two years.

          Energy Performance Certificates

          Boiler efficiency forms part of a building's overall energy performance, which must be displayed in the form of an Energy Performance Certificate.

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        • How to use heating and hot water systems efficiently

          Installing an efficient heating system - Marine Hotel (video)

          Claire Hunter, director of the Marine Hotel in Ballycastle, explains how they installed an efficient LPG gas zoned heating system

          The Marine Hotel is situated in the Causeway coast resort town of Ballycastle with 31 bedrooms, dining and hospitality areas and large function rooms to heat.

          Claire Hunter, the hotel's Director, explains how they moved from an oil fired heating system with hot water tanks to a more efficient LPG gas-zoned heating system.

          Claire explains how they assessed their energy and heating needs, the support and advice they received, the practical benefits of the zoned system they chose and their annual cost savings.

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          Claire Hunter
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