Almost all (97 per cent) of respondents said efficiency is important, whilst a quarter said it was the most important factor, alongside low running costs. The third most-valued feature is how safe it is, with 16 per cent of respondents saying it is the main thing they look for when choosing a new product.
The survey by OnePoll, in association with Jaga, quizzed 250 facilities decision-makers working across sectors such as retirement living, education, leisure and commercial space about their approach to energy efficiency. Respondents were asked about their energy expenditure, technology usage and awareness of legislation and funding, as well as the barriers they face when trying to improve the EPC rating of the premises they manage.
Almost a third (32 per cent) of respondents reported that space heating was the largest component of their energy bill, with an average monthly cost of just under £1,500.
Of those polled, the most common EPC rating was C. However, even more people (27 per cent) said they were not sure what the rating of their building is – a concerning statistic considering recent legislation surrounding Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for privately rented buildings.
Current energy efficiency measures they have in place include low energy lightbulbs (58 per cent), roof (51 per cent) or cavity wall (43 per cent) insultation, draught proofing (38 per cent) and heating zone controls (36 per cent). A fifth of people also have low water content radiators.
For 45 per cent of those who were surveyed, investment costs are the main barrier to achieving further energy efficiency on site. This was followed by lack of perceived ability to implement the changes (29 per cent) and low capital availability (24 per cent).
Whilst there is financial assistance available, awareness and uptake of these schemes varies. For example, almost two in 10 (19 per cent) of the facilities decision-makers polled say that they are receiving the Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, whilst over three in 10 (31 per cent) were not aware of this government initiative. Similarly, 19 per cent of those polled are in receipt of the Feed-in Tariff, in contrast to the three in 10 (30 per cent) who were not aware of this at all. The Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme is the least-known of the three schemes mentioned, with 36 per cent saying they had never even heard of it.
Andy Williams, technical consultant at Jaga, said: “These findings shine a light on the issues facing facilities managers today. Armed with this knowledge, consultants can specify the right products to meet their needs and solve some of their pain points, resulting in happy customers.
“For example, the use of a low surface temperature radiator with low-H2O technology ticks all three boxes: cost, efficiency and safety. Low-H2O radiators are up to 15 per cent more economical compared to standard steel-panel radiators because they use less water and react much faster when warmth is needed.
“The Jaga Maxi 2020 LST is our premier product combining strength and security while working seamlessly with heat pumps and low temperature systems. It is perfect for use in environments with the highest safety requirements, including public areas, schools, hospitals, prisons and those for the vulnerable. As well as eliminating the risk of scalding, it is also available with an anti-bacterial coating and anti-ligature options for enhanced levels of hygiene and safety where required.”