The UK’s manufacturing industry accounts for around 17% of the country’s total energy use, meaning that major efficiencies can be made in this area to both reduce the cost of manufacturing and contribute to the country’s energy efficiency goals.
With energy costs accounting for up to 5% of a company’s total annual expenditure, implementing energy saving measures is a wise move. Let’s look at four great ways to save energy in manufacturing:
1. Heating and cooling
Heavy machinery tends to generate heat. For the safety and comfort of workers, this must be dispersed; therefore, the manufacturing industry invests heavily in air conditioning systems. Old, inefficient, and incorrectly maintained systems do not work effectively and cost more to run, so keep them clean and serviced. If your heavy machinery is more than ten years old, consider replacing it with modern equivalents.
2. Insulation
Warehouses and workshops are vast spaces that can be costly to heat and ventilate, so insulating them appropriately is a sensible move that reduces temperature fluctuations and the amount of energy needed to maintain a comfortable working environment. Consider installing roof and wall insulation to reduce unwanted heat loss.
3. Maintain equipment
Maintaining your manufacturing equipment improves its longevity and durability, reducing your unplanned downtime and replacement costs while helping to keep your equipment operating at peak performance. Even reliable manufacturing equipment, such as Roscamat tapping machines, will benefit from routine servicing and maintenance to improve its energy efficiency and performance.
4. Lighting
Major efficiency gains can be made by upgrading the lighting systems. Swap to LED bulbs and consider using motion-activated sensors to only illuminate areas in which workers are present.
Making small changes to the way they operate can save manufacturers money and reduce their carbon footprint. Switching to modern machines such as Roscamat tapping machines and maintaining them well is a sound investment. Alongside upgrading insulation, maintaining adequate heating and ventilation, and only lighting used workspaces will improve energy efficiency.
These measures may seem small; however, when combined, the impact they deliver is huge.
