Newport Transport – Improving control, reducing costs, and supporting sustainability goals
Newport Transport wanted to reduce rising energy costs and improve visibility over site performance while supporting their sustainability objectives. By installing a new energy control system with intelligent optimisation and remote access, we helped them achieve a 48% energy saving and a 13-month payback.
48 %
Savings delivered
13
Month payback period
Context
Newport Transport has been moving people across Wales for over 125 years. With nearly 100 buses – half of which are fully electric – they’re committed to sustainable public transport.
Like many operators, they faced rising energy costs following national tariff increases, with gas and electricity bills rising by more than £80,000 in a year. Alongside the financial challenge, the business wanted to reduce its carbon footprint and gain clearer oversight of energy use across its depots.
A site survey revealed that the existing control system was obsolete and only partially connected to the heating equipment. Several heaters operated independently, controlled by time clocks or local overrides, with no central visibility. There were two main buildings, with 14 heating zones covering radiant tubes, boilers and both floor-mounted and suspended warm air blowers.
The goal was clear: modernise control, improve oversight, and reduce costs without disrupting daily operations.
Solution
We replaced the outdated control system with a new platform connecting every heater to a single point of control. The system was designed with remote access, allowing the site team to monitor and manage heating from any internet-enabled device.
External sensors were installed to provide weather compensation, adjusting heating schedules automatically in line with outdoor temperatures. We enabled pre-heat optimisation using a self-learning algorithm that calculated the ideal start times based on the size of each zone and the rate of temperature rise.
To maintain control and security, the system introduced role-based access with PIN protection. This allowed the site manager to define settings for authorised users and prevent unnecessary manual overrides.
We also added door sensors near shutter doors to automatically switch off heaters when doors were open, stopping gas waste and encouraging staff to close them promptly.
Through the online portal, users could review performance data, including heater burn times, override activity, and door sensor logs – all exportable to Excel for reporting and analysis.
Impact
The new system gave Newport Transport full control over its heating, complete visibility of energy use, and improved operational discipline across the site.
We initially forecasted a 25% saving and a 13-month payback period. After installation, analysis confirmed a 48% reduction in energy use – 23% above target – delivering faster payback and ongoing cost savings.
The highest monthly energy use in the first year after installation was still lower than the five highest months recorded in the year before, demonstrating consistent and lasting efficiency improvements.
The upgrade provided Newport Transport with better control, lower costs, and a system aligned with their long-term sustainability vision.
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