Roehampton University

“We’re delighted with the performance of our 5 powerPerfectors which have resulted in a 10% reduction in our electricity bills since installation, with a payback period of less than 3.5 years. The whole installation process was efficiently managed resulting in minimal disruption to services and there have been no subsequent problems. We hope to have our whole estate optimised by the end of 2010.”

Jonathan Horner
Environmental Manager, Roehampton University

Roehampton University – powerPerfected
Roehampton University is a campus university situated on three major sites at Roehampton in south‐west London, in the United Kingdom. The listed buildings stand in grounds close to Richmond Park and Putney, with central London a few miles away. Today the University has a broad range of expertise across the arts and humanities, social sciences and the human and life sciences, at the same time as maintaining its historic strength in education.

The challenge, the solution and the savings

Roehampton University has installed powerPerfectors on 5 of their supplies in 2009. The following case study shows the savings achieved on one of these units and the carbon dioxide savings associated with the reduction in energy consumption. Froebel Grove installed a 830kVA unit on 8^th August 2009 on a 10% optimisation setting.

Topline results

Year‐on‐year analysis is a useful benchmark for consumption following installation, particularly so for Universities, as the variation in electricity consumption is not only attributable to temperature, but also the use of the building over the course of each term. To identify the energy saving attributable to the powerPerfector, we first assess the difference in consumption prior to the installation of the powerPerfector to ensure we do not double account for any reduction that has already been achieved. Having made this calculation, data following installation can be compared with the previous year, usually up to three months after installation.

Using the methods detailed above the savings attributable to powerPerfector are a 9.3% reduction in kWh consumption. A simple analysis would yield a 12.4% reduction, however it has been shown that there was 3.1% drop in consumption prior to installation, which could not have had anything to do with powerPerfector. For further information please download the full case study covering multiple sites here.

Voltage Power Optimisation. The less obvious benefits

Reduced maintenance, longer life
All electrical equipment has an optimum voltage at which it works best. A powerPerfected supply delivers that optimum and reduces the strain on your electrical equipment, leaving it to work more reliably and for longer.

Better quality power supply
Some things you may have accepted for years, but product faults can turn out to be caused by a poor quality power supply. For instance, the life of incandescent light bulbs is almost doubled when the supply voltage is optimised. Now imagine that in relation to an IT network or an expensive piece of manufacturing equipment.

Lower harmonic distortion and reduced neutral currents
powerPerfectors are able to filter harmonics on the mains incomer. Harmonic distortion is on the increase and can lead to random failures of electronic equipment – particularly computers.

Protection
Transients – very brief spikes in voltage from the grid – of up to 25,000V are eliminated by powerPerfector. Transients at this level can cause catastrophic damage to equipment, but smaller, more common transient events will also shorten the life expectancy of electrical equipment over time. Each installation ensures that Roehampton University is no longer at risk from failures that could put them out of business for days.