Build June (2016)

Build Magazine 26 Smart GreenTech Solutions is an independent energy management and sustainable design consultancy. We interviewed Founder Pierre Olivier to learn more about the firm and the services it provides in this vital sector. Smart GreenTech Solutions provide refurbishment and energy retrofit projects on commercial real estate, with a specific focus on serving the private sector, with clients ranging from independent schools and hotels to multi-site corporate clients. Pierre outlines the services the firm provides to these clients and how it aims to always offer a superior service. “I have been managing and delivering energy and carbon reduction projects for leading national and multi-national companies since the mid 90’s, and established Smart Greentech Solutions in 2011 with the key objective of establishing a competitive edge by listening to our clients, providing a personalised service, and consistently delivering on our promises. “The key objective when we set-up Smart GreenTech Solutions was to establish a competitive edge by listening to our clients, providing a personalised service, and consistently delivering on our promises. These are areas which our larger and more established competitors often overlook as a result of their multi layered structures and business models, and remain our core drivers. “Therefore here at Smart GreenTech Solutions, we provide all aspects of energy efficiency, from waste to energy and renewable energy analysis, development and design, specialising in the optimisation and recommissioning of existing heating, cooling and ventilation systems. “Our role is to partner with our clients from an early stage of a project to gain a thorough understanding of their requirements and what they want to achieve, in order to tailor the most appropriate solution which will not only satisfy their requirements, but also provide significant energy savings and on-going benefits.” A key challenge, according to Pierre, has always been getting clients on board with reducing their energy consumption. He explains how Government initiatives have missed the mark in the past with regards to supporting consumers and the energy sector, and how his firm has worked hard to avoid these pitfalls. “Getting clients excited about energy reduction projects have always been a challenge, and the introduction of Feed- In Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentives in the UK has further compounded this problem. The problem was not with the incentives itself, but rather with the approach of a large number of equipment suppliers and contractors, who simply sold clients significantly oversized systems which only benefited them, with the promise of over inflated returns to make the sale, which seldom materialised. “We have always been of the opinion that the bubble will burst, and have always approached projects from a sustainable engineering perspective to firstly reduce demand, followed by improving efficiency and only then integrate renewables. This approach not only significantly reduces energy consumption and associated costs, but also ensures that renewable systems are accurately matched to demand which deliver significantly better returns. “I am of the opinion that energy reduction projects are slowly but surely starting to get the attention that it deserves, and client concerns about security of electricity supply, ongoing utility price increases, the P272 metering legislation and a range of other Government initiatives such as the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme etc. should further support the uptake of these projects.” Looking to the future, Pierre offers his opinion on the industry at large and share the firm’s plans for growth within this market. “Personally, it is my opinion that as an energy and engineering industry we have an obligation to ensure that we collectively act in the best interests of clients and sell projects on their total lifecycle costs and benefits, but this will unfortunately only be possible if we have a more regulated and professional industry, where the likes of CIBSE and the Energy Institute take a more leading role in training and certifying energy and engineering practitioners. “With regards to our clients’, it is my hope that they start taking a longer term view, by not only focussing on initial costs but total life cycle costs and benefits, as this will enable them to make more informed choices. “In order to support this ever growing industry, and address the issue staff shortages which are currently rife within the construction industry as a whole, Smart GreenTech Solutions are looking to grow our team of engineers by introducing graduate engineers and apprentices. This approach will ensure that innovative dialogue and thinking is stimulated and that we have a strong base on which to build our workforce.” Special Feature 1605RB08 2016 Infrastructure Innovator of the Year, the UK