Insulation
Improvements can be made in the efficiency of insulation. Many industrial buildings can benefit from enhanced thermal insulation to ceilings and walls, double-glazing windows, etc. If access is required for vehicles, consideration should be given to quick-closing automatic doors.
Doors which need to be kept open for much of the time (e.g. in retail premises) canbe protected against heat loss by use of ‘hot air curtains’. Building regulations requireenhanced levels of insulation in new-build properties.
Heating
Savings can be made by efficient use of thermostats so that heat is used only whereand when required. For large (especially high-roofed) spaces, the use of infra-red radiation heaters can be beneficial as heating of large bodies of hot air is avoided. Careful use of heated water (there are safety considerations for hot water systems) may give energy savings. In many industrial situations, the amount of heated water needed for processes can be minimised.
Lighting
Energy efficient light bulbs save a considerable amount over energy over the life of the bulb, compared to tungsten filament bulbs. Light fittings with efficient reflectors can also be beneficial. Some occupied rooms can benefit from movement sensors or time-switches.
Energy-efficient process equipment
Modern process equipment, such as variable-speed drives for electrical machinery, can reduce energy consumption. Grants can be obtained from the government’s Carbon Trust Funds to offset the capital cost of new equipment (see Climate Change).
Operational changes
Some companies have taken the initiative to change working patterns to help maximize the efficiency of use of the buildings and production processes. For example, one energy intensive facility changed its shift patterns, making a more efficient use of its operating time. (NB This was facilitated with advice from EEF’s Legal Team to ensure that the contracts of employment still met good practice).
Energy and transport
Most transportation systems rely on the combustion of fossil fuels. This means that every vehicle is a potential source of greenhouse gases. Here we look at different ways of reducing the impact of transport, in terms of energy use and CO2 emissions.
Reduce travel
The most effective way of reducing the environmental impact of transportation is simply to travel less (for ‘environmental impact’, see EMS). A business could, for example, rely more on communication by email, video conference and telephone calls, etc. It may also be possible to rearrange transport routes and delivery schedules to minimise the number of miles travelled per product.
Change mode of transport
If travel is over long distances, consideration should be given to avoiding air travel where possible. Air travel uses more fuel per passenger-mile or freight-mile than train or ship. Also the emissions released at high altitude have a proportionately greater environmental impact than other forms of transport.
Electric trains and the few electric road vehicles that exist also rely mainly on combustion of fossil fuels, but that combustion takes place in large, fixed installations – power stations. Even taking into account losses during transmission and battery storage of electricity, this is a more efficient way of converting fossil fuels into motive power.
A study by the California Air Resources Board found that, over 100,000 miles, an electric car was responsible for 10 tons of carbon dioxide compared with 35 tons emitted by an internal combustion engine vehicle (see Chip Gribben, Debunking the Myth of Electric Vehicles and Smokestacks, the Electric Vehicle Association of Washington, DC).
Efficient logistics
There are ways to reduce the numbers of miles travelled through effective distribution logistics.
Improve the efficiency of vehicles and driving style
Other improvements rely on increasing the efficiency of vehicles (e.g. improved aerodynamics or engine technology) or the way in which they are used. Driving styles affect fuel efficiency and driver training can reduce fuel consumption. Avoiding travel at times when congestion is at its worst is also beneficial, since stop–start driving wastes fuel.
Company car efficiency
There are tax incentives for fuel-efficient company car fleets. EEF has linked up with the Energy Savings Trust to provide advice on greening car fleets. They can help reduce fleet costs, cut vehicle carbon emissions and improve company social and environmental reputation. Visit Greenerfleets.
Use of low carbon fuels (bio-fuels)
Bio fuels are fuels derived from biological material such as crops. They benefit from reduced rates of fuel duty, but their long-term and regulatory role is under review and being questioned. There are widespread concerns about the sustainability, carbon footprint and land-use impact (e.g. taking land away from food production) of certain biofuels. The government’s Gallagher report has recommended delaying and scaling back the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (a UK policy mechanism designed to meet EU objectives to increase biofuel use).
Product efficiency
An example of controls on the resource efficiency of products is the Energy Using Products (EuP) Directive (2005/32/EC) which sets rules on the eco-design of Energy-using Products, such as electrical and electronic devices or heating equipment. Eco-design, means the integration of environmental considerations at the design phase of products, which is the best way to improve their environmental performance.