Businesses and organisations ranging from the island’s prison to a hotel and datacentres have been praised for their work towards improving energy efficiency.

Peter Skelton, managing director at Netcetera, winner of the 2017 private sector award for biggest carbon saving, said: ’We are the only zero carbon datacentre in the island and are extremely proud of our achievements to date.

’Our home on the Isle of Man is still clean and green and Netcetera is fully behind the Isle of Man Government’s goal to reduce carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.’

Mr Skelton added: ’I am delighted that Netcetera’s clients have helped the business save over two million kilos of CO2 emissions.

’Since switching over to the Manx Utilities green energy tariff we have invested in the latest performance servers which are 50% more efficient, this has been recognised in receiving this award.

’This simply would not have been possible without the support and commitment of every one of our clients over the last few years.’

This year’s winners are:

Biggest Saving

Private - Continent 8

Public - Douglas Borough Council

Biggest Carbon Saving

Private - Netcetera

Best Innovation

Private - The Mannin Hotel / SCS

Public - Department of Infrastructure (Noble’s Hospital)

Best Practice

Private - Manx Solar Electrical Ltd

Public - Isle of Man Prison / SNX Limited

Highly Commended

Private - The Snug Limited

Public - The Department of Infrastructure (Noble’s Hospital)

The Department of Economic Development has commended organisations at the 2017 Energy Awards for their work towards improving energy efficiency.

The annual event, hosted by the department, focuses on promoting and recognising organisations in the Isle of Man from the public and private sector that have reduced their energy consumption and associated costs.

Lawrie Hooper MHK, department member with responsibility for clean tech and energy, said: ’I would like to extend my congratulations to all the winners this year.

’The island’s energy is vital to the economy, and is essential for powering businesses. This is why the department is focused on identifying sustainable ways to reduce the cost of energy long term.

’The Isle of Man has committed to reducing its carbon greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 and it’s important that awards such as these recognise not only the innovation of our local businesses but also encourage others to follow suit.’

Private Sector - Biggest

Saving

Continent 8

Project: Datacentre Halls

Reduction in energy use and cost of cooling two data halls where the banks of servers are installed. Adiabatic air cooling units are employed to create ambient air conditions and a favourable climate within the data halls. The cooling units achieved a 65 per cent reduction in energy costs saving approximately £14,000 per annum in each hall. A total saving of £28,000 and fewer maintenance hours, reduced power usage effectiveness (PUE) and lower carbon emissions.

Private Sector - Biggest

Carbon Saving

Netcetera

Project: Datacentre Halls

Operate a carbon neutral hosting datacentre through investing in the latest high performance servers which are 50 per cent more efficient as well as the adoption of Cold Aisle Containment technology and energy efficient Adiabatic Cooling systems.

Private Sector - Best

Innovation

SCS and the Mannin Hotel

Project: The Mannin Hotel building management

system

The Mannin Hotel was rebuilt from the ground up and re-opened in spring 2016. During the reconstruction Stewart Clague Services Limited (SCS) worked in partnership with hotel owner Keith Lord and the hotel accountants on modelling the energy consumption, design and build delivering the complete installation to an agreed budget. The most efficient energy saving equipment was sourced to deliver a desired level of energy consumption and cost to reduce the one of the biggest overheads and help profitability.

Private Sector - Best

Practice

Manx Solar Electrical Ltd

The company undertook remedial works to achieve a highly energy efficient property by incorporating higher levels of insulation into the thermal envelope, capturing renewable energy via solar panels, using an air source heat pump to extract energy from ambient air temperatures and installation of a whole house heat recovery ventilation system.

Commended

The Snug Limited

Project: Wood-burning

Masterclasses

The Snug has been supplying quality wood-burning stoves since May 2010 to island residents and recognised the need to ensure their customers use the stoves efficiently so the stove performs to its best.

Public sector - Biggest Saving

Douglas Borough Council

Project: Street Light

replacement programme

Douglas Borough Council is undertaking a programme of street light replacement with an aim to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, protect against increase in energy costs, improve highway street lighting performance and safety, reduce maintenance, minimise risk of crime, free up resources through lower maintenance and improve asset management and reporting.

Highly Commended

The Department of

Infrastructure

Project: External lighting at Noble’s Hospital

A programme to replace the external lighting at Noble’s Hospital to improve the quality of light and reduce energy consumption. The Metal Halide light fittings were replaced by LED lights at a cost of £144,000. The cost of the project will be recovered via the energy savings within six years providing 70% reduction in consumption saving £24,500 a year and £563,000 over the 23-year lifetime.

Public sector - Best

Innovation

Department of Infrastructure

Project: Steam boiler economisers at Nobles Hospital

The project was to increase the efficiency of the three steam boilers at Noble’s Hospital by installing three steam boiler flue gas economisers, the economisers reclaim heat from the boiler flue gases, this heat being transferred into the boiler feed water so the boiler requires less energy to generate steam given the higher feed water temperature. The economisers will save £16,000 per boiler, so typically two of the three boilers would be running at any one time, so £32,000 per year saving.

Public sector - Best

Practice

Isle of Man Prison/SNX Limited

An energy audit of the prison was undertaken and air tightness testing highlighted defects in the building fabric.

Remedial works were carried out with estimated savings of 7.8 per cent LPG and 9.5 per cent oil consumption saving approximately £15,900 per annum and a simple payback period of eight to nine years on a building with a minimum 75-year lifespan.

Peter Skelton, managing director at award winning Netcetera