ESOS Action Plans: Did You Estimate Your Savings Correctly?

Written by Joe Wright

A managing consultant who is an expert in energy management and reduction strategies. His experience ranges from project managment, facilities management, construction and energy consultancy so he's uniquely qualified to advise on energy reduction and compliance for a wide range of building types and sectors

If your business is subject to the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), you’ve likely been through the process of compiling your ESOS report and, more recently, preparing your ESOS action plan. But here’s a crucial question: did you estimate your energy savings correctly? If you’re not sure, keep reading this could make a big difference in how you present your commitments and ultimately achieve your savings.

The Role of an ESOS Lead Assessor

While an ESOS Lead Assessor is required for your ESOS audit, you don’t necessarily need one to create your action plan. However, it can still be incredibly beneficial to have guidance from someone experienced in the scheme. As an ESOS Lead Assessor myself, I stay up to date on the latest requirements and best practices, ensuring businesses comply correctly while maximising their savings potential.

If you’ve taken on the responsibility of completing your own ESOS action plan, you need to be just as thorough. One common mistake I’ve seen is how businesses estimate their energy savings across the four year action plan period.

The Risk of Underestimating Your Savings

The main mistake I’ve seen is taking the annual savings figure from your ESOS Phase 3 report and applying it to the four year period without considering when each measure will actually be implemented. If a measure is planned for the first year, for example, you would get the full four years of savings not just one years’ worth.

By failing to correctly apportion savings based on implementation dates, you risk underreporting your potential energy savings. This is particularly problematic because ESOS action plans require a public declaration of your planned measures. If you’ve underestimated your savings, you may be underselling the impact of your energy efficiency efforts.

Getting the Right Support

If you’ve already submitted your ESOS action plan, take a moment to review it. Did you accurately distribute savings based on when each measure will be implemented? If not, you may have presented a lower commitment than what’s actually achievable.

If you’re unsure, reach out for guidance. Sometimes, just a quick conversation can ensure your action plan is both accurate and realistic.

So, did you do your ESOS action plan yourself? If so, are you confident your savings estimates are correct? If you have any doubts, feel free to get in touch I’d be happy to help.