Diversified resources group Exxaro was runner up in the 2011 National Energy Barometer Survey’s Head Office and Corporate Offices category for the second consecutive year.

Companies had the opportunity to enter their energy usage for 2011 last year, after which judging took place and the results were announced earlier this month.

First place was awarded to State-owned entity Central Energy Fund House, with gold mining company AngloGold Ashanti in third place.

“In 2009, Exxaro’s Energy and Carbon Management Steering Committee adopted a vision statement to ‘be recognised as a leader in energy management through minimising our energy consumption, while working towards becoming a carbon-neutral company’, which allowed the establishment of energy consumption baselines and the determination of the level of management of energy efficiency at that time,” Exxaro’s executive head for growth, technology and services Ernst Venter says.

Exxaro has been participating in the National Energy Barometer Survey since its inception in 2009 and states that the survey allows it to compare its buildings to others in the industry.

“It is encouraging to know that our 50-year-old building fares well against green buildings and other more recently upgraded facilities,” Venter adds.

Energy efficiency measures implemented by Exxaro include timer-controlled building lighting, which ensures that lights are switched off after working hours, eliminating removing the possible cost of an employee forgetting to turn off a light when leaving the working area.

Meanwhile, all unnecessary hot water systems were also disconnected and water to those hot-water taps was turned off, he says, adding that heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems were also upgraded and centralised. When switching to a time-of-use tariff at Exxaro’s head office, the HVAC system is started earlier in the morning to avoid a period of peak hours, thereby saving costs.

Another initiative implemented by Exxaro to assist with its energy management is real-time metering.

“By being able to monitor energy usage in real time, problem areas in the facility can be identified quickly and rectified at short notice, thereby reducing the risk of unforeseen utility charges,” Venter explains.

Further, since the adoption of the energy efficiency vision by Exxaro’s Energy and Carbon Management Steering Committee in 2009, general energy efficiency awareness campaigns have been undertaken within the company and a community of practice was established with energy efficiency champions appointed part-time at business units.

“The energy-awareness programme and the work of the part-time energy champions at the business units have proved to be the most effective way of saving energy,” he tells Mining Weekly.

Business unit energy audits have also been completed and Exxaro developed an energy consumption and production database.

In addition to these measures the company implemented “low hanging fruit projects”, such as energy efficient lighting, heat pumps and solar heating for change houses, Venter says, adding that Exxaro is also undertaking a drive for energy efficiency in the design of new plant equipment at, among others, its Grootegeluk Medupi expansion project, in Limpopo.

“Participation in the National Energy Barometer Survey participation has contributed to raising awareness among occupants of the head office building and serves as a motivation to continuously improve,” says Venter.

Exxaro aims to intensify the role of energy champions in each business unit to maintain the positive impact of the awareness and savings initiatives.

The Energy Barometer is a tool that encourages an approach in the right direction and is being used by many companies to decide which buildings in their portfolios’ energy-management initiatives will deliver the most significant impact. It also encourages continuous improvement to maintain and improve its Barometer benchmarking status.

Venter says Exxaro is striving to continuously improve awareness. “The next project that we will focus on are replacing lamps with more energy efficient ones, replacing inefficient chillers and implementing free cooling where possible.”

Exxaro’s benefits from being more energy efficient include an increase in the reliability of operations, a positive effect on productivity and competitiveness, financial and economic returns, reduced exposure to rising electricity prices and an increase in the security of South Africa’s electricity supply, Venter concludes.