A new regulatory requirement based upon Article 8 of the European Union Energy Efficiency Directive, known as the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), will have a major impact on how companies use, monitor, and regulate their energy consumption, and yet many businesses are still unsure of how it will affect them. Here, Mapmechanics explain how ESOS works and what businesses, and especially energy assessors, across the United Kingdom need to do to prepare for it.

The implementation of ESOS by the government is part of an ongoing drive to make UK businesses greener and more energy efficient. All businesses which are not small to medium enterprises are required to comply with it, which in effect means that any company which employs more than 250 people will have to take part in the scheme. These companies will need to nominate a Lead Energy Assessor, and it will then be their duty to carry out, and sign off, a full energy assessment by 5th December 2015. Further assessments will need to be carried out at maximum intervals of four years after the date of the initial assessment.

"Mapmechanics are currently working with ESOS consultants to assist this mandatory auditing process, specifically in the area of vehicle fuel saving ", said Paul Dawsey, Director of Logistics Solutions, Mapmechanics. "Our Truckstops solution has been helping companies to minimise their fuel usage as well as other areas of their business for over 25 years, which typically results in saving between 10-30% of vehicle running costs."

With the deadline drawing ever nearer, it is important for energy assessors to understand what will be required in an ESOS assessment. The assessor will need to identify specific plans to improve energy efficiency over the organisation as a whole. The assessment will also need to be carried out in a fair and independent fashion on the basis of the minimum criteria set down by the scheme. The Lead Energy Assessor themselves, as well as acting independently, must be a qualified and/or accredited expert, and can be an in-house assessor or belong to external energy auditors.

With such emphasis being placed on energy efficiency by the ESOS regulations, it's essential that energy assessors can find and recommend effective ways to make energy savings right now. One way in which this can be done is by becoming more fuel efficient, and Truckstops from Mapmechanics can help them achieve this. The sophisticated and dynamic route planning software brings huge benefits to businesses and depots who typically make multiple deliveries to multiple destinations. This creates cost cutting and more efficient routes, saving companies around 10-30% when compared to manually selected delivery routes.

Mapmechanics is working hand in hand with accredited assessors to provide expert input on the fuel saving element of the audit. To findout how Truckstops can help energy assessors carry out ESOS assessments, call 020 8568 7000.