London Fire Brigade’s energy portal recognised at Energy Awards
Iain Hoey
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London Fire Brigade’s sustainable energy initiatives
As reported by the London Fire Brigade, the Energy Portal, a module within the Building Energy Management System (BEMS), has been instrumental in reducing energy consumption across its 103 fire stations.
The system, controlling around 65 per cent of the Brigade’s energy usage, was introduced in January 2022.
In July 2024, it won the Building Management Low Carbon Initiative Award at the Energy Awards and was nominated for the Energy Efficient Partnership of the Year.
The Energy Portal provides an accessible and interactive platform for monitoring energy consumption, encouraging staff to reduce energy use, similar to a home smart meter.
The BEMS enables the Brigade’s Technical Assurance team to virtually manage heating and hot water systems and promptly address any issues through an alarm system.
Award-winning energy reduction achievements
Between April 2022 and March 2023, the London Fire Brigade achieved a 17 per cent reduction in energy usage, surpassing its target of 10 per cent.
Mitch Layng, Carbon and Utilities Manager, said: “We are proud to have been recognised at the Energy Awards.
“The implementation of the Energy Portal has been really successful, and we are so pleased by the response and engagement from our staff.
“Collectively, we all have a part to play in the fight against climate change.”
The Brigade’s commitment to sustainability aligns with the Mayor of London’s goal to make the city carbon net zero by 2030.
Energy savings also contribute to financial savings, allowing funds to be reinvested into services.
Carbon net zero strategy and future plans
The London Fire Brigade is developing a comprehensive carbon net zero strategy.
In 2022, it unveiled its first carbon net zero fire station in Walthamstow, featuring electric heat pumps, solar panels, and energy-efficient lighting.
By the end of 2024, five more stations are set to achieve carbon net zero status, with funding secured to decarbonise an additional 12 stations by the end of 2026.
In addition to fire stations, the Brigade’s fleet of emergency response cars is now all-electric.
The development of the first zero-emission pumping appliance is underway.
The Brigade is also introducing hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) to fuel some of its fire engines.
HVO, produced from vegetable fats and oils, reduces vehicle carbon emissions by about 90 per cent.