Energy and Environment Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

08/04/2025 Ensuring humidity control Humidity is the enemy of battery manufacturers, so its measurement and control is extremely important – not just for the plant’s energy efficiency, but also for the quality and yield of batteries, affecting issues such as range in EVs. ... » Read More

20/03/2023 Changes to building energy efficiency With 1 April 2023 fast approaching, it is time to get serious about the upcoming changes to the Minimum Energy Efficient Standard (MEES) Regulations, which come into force then. By Kylie Cooper, partner, Wright Hassall » Read More

20/02/2023 Shop air gets the squeeze April 2022 saw the launch of a taskforce targeting a 10% reduction in the energy consumed by compressed air systems. Steed Webzell details the campaign’s key messages » Read More

09/01/2023 Optimising pumps for efficiency Given the global rise in energy costs, there has never been a better time to review and assess the efficiency of your pumping systems – whatever their size, complexity or indeed area of operation. Basic information and guidance on ... » Read More

15/08/2022 Energy management: a standards approach ISO 50001 - Energy Management Systems - Requirements with Guidance for Use, offers measurable cost benefits to organisations, allowing business to achieve greater transparency and promote best practice in energy management by demonstrating ... » Read More

15/08/2022 Plaudits for audits With costs surging, energy usage audits have never been more critical, especially as new developments in the IoT lower the barrier to carrying these out right across the estate. By Brian Wall » Read More

11/11/2021 Energy ratings for commercial and industrial buildings The government is proposing a new scheme to log energy consumption and carbon emissions in large buildings that will come into play in 2022. By Tom Austin-Morgan » Read More

05/10/2021 Tracking carbon in construction product manufacturing At the Energy Management Exhibition (24-25 November), SOE is presenting a panel discussion on reducing energy consumption. It features members working across industry. Also speaking is Matthew Jenkinson, Tarmac Alfreton senior site ... » Read More

13/05/2021 SECR environmental reporting - a guide Many companies in the UK will be reporting their greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption under the government’s new streamlined energy and carbon reporting (SECR) policy for the first time this year, writes Tom Austin-Morgan » Read More

06/05/2021 Mind the gap Engineered systems support people living and working indoors. However, there is often a gap between the way those systems were designed to work, and what happens in reality. Enter the growing field of building performance evaluation. By ... » Read More

08/01/2020 Sweet tricks Operations improvement manager for energy, Chris Mayhew, has witnessed energy management change during his 30+ year career at British Sugar. He explained more to delegates at the Energy Management Exhibition (EMEX) in November, about the ... » Read More

26/09/2013 Balance of power Most plants would benefit from a structured energy review of their plant operations. Steed Webzell examines the latest methodology and equipment able to transform existing plants. » Read More

01/08/2012 Cool solutions Most plants would benefit from an energy audit, but where should you focus your efforts? And what kind of technology might yield the best dividends? Brian Tinham reports » Read More

01/08/2012 Energy efficiency With energy-related issues topping most plant engineers' agendas, Laura Cork looks ahead to the forthcoming Energy Event, which promises a packed educational programme » Read More

08/08/2011 Energy event 2011 The upcoming Energy Event promises a packed agenda focused on optimising energy management, procurement and efficiency. Laura Cork reports » Read More

08/08/2011 Fresh pair of eyes Most plants might benefit from an energy audit, but many could also do with a review of operations, aimed at improving everything from efficiency to product quality. Dr Tom Shelley reports » Read More

06/10/2010 Sands of time Punitive new legislation could prove the high noon for industrial plants that have so far failed to calculate their carbon footprint and formulate a plan to effect improvements. But it isn't too late to get it right, as Brian Wall reports » Read More

10/08/2010 Energy Event Energy efficiency and energy saving are right up there on plant engineers' agendas. Brian Wall previews the forthcoming Energy Event 2010 conference and exhibition » Read More

10/08/2010 Making sustainability pay Following last year's launch of sustainability guidelines by the Engineering Council, Steed Webzell takes a look at today's key issues and responsibilities » Read More

01/03/2010 Wasting away The Carbon Trust reckons that UK companies are still wasting €1 billion worth of energy per year, largely due to unresolved plant optimisation issues and inefficiencies in energy generation plant itself. Brian Wall reports on ways ... » Read More

01/01/2010 Not just hot air With the announcement late last year that Atlas Copco compressors can now recover 100% of their energy input, Peter Lattaway provides in-depth insight into the technology » Read More

01/12/2008 Breath of fresh air It is not uncommon for organisations to report that up to a third of their total factory energy bill can be attributed to compressed air plant. No surprise then that, with energy prices at record highs, reviews of compressed air systems ... » Read More

01/10/2008 Fluid thinking According to the Carbon Trust, UK industry spends around £9.5 billion on energy, with at least 40% of that consumed by process heating. 'Using straightforward techniques, between 5% and 10% of this could be saved, reducing spending on ... » Read More

01/10/2007 Fire for the future It is now possible to improve the efficiency of steam raising boiler systems by 10% and there are cases where fuel bills have been cut by 30%, using technology developed by London-based Autoflame. What's more, although developed for ... » Read More

01/03/2004 Keeping it simple saves cash Factory services like compressed air and steam systems are classic examples of functions that are only noticed when they go wrong. Nowadays, like - thankfully - modern cars, these systems can be relied upon to work consistently. But - also ... » Read More