16 Jul Energy saving tips for industrial premises

Whether you run a factory that manufactures cardboard packaging or you’re a supplier of circuit boards to enterprise, your industrial premises uses a lot of energy. So much so, we’d guess your monthly energy bill is in the thousands.

If your bills are high, it surprise you to learn that many companies in industry are missing out on simple changes that could drastically improve their energy efficiency – and we’re not talking about turning the lights off at the end of a shift. We’re talking about changes to a building’s infrastructure to make it more efficient.

Your energy bill will be made up of two parts: electricity and gas. You’ll use electricity to power machinery, business essential appliances and the lights. You’ll use gas to power the central heating system and generate hot water.

If you want to save energy and money, follow these tips:

Have an energy efficiency report carried out

For a modest fee, a specialist electrician will visit your industrial premises and carry out what’s called an industrial energy efficiency report. This will reveal unique opportunities for your industrial premises to reduce energy on the factory floor – and they’ll be specific to you, rather than generic. The report can be performed as a one-off or every month to help you understand your energy consumption.

• The report will detail where you are leaking energy
• This will allow you to make improvements

 
Invest in an efficient lighting system

If your industrial premises uses a lot of light bulbs, you should switch to LED light bulbs to save up to 90% energy usage per bulb. It’s also a good idea to have a timer system in place so that there’s no risk of lights being left on at night. Another thing that’ll save you money is motion sensors. Lights that turn on when they detect motion, and switch off afterwards, will save you energy while offering convenience for workers.

• Switch to LED light bulbs
• Use a timer system to switch the lights on and off
• Use motion detectors to keep non-essential lighting off until needed

 
Replace ageing electrical machinery

If you use legacy machines that are powered by electricity, such as industrial lathes or conveyor belts, it’ll be worth upgrading them in the long-term. Older machines can use up to 50% more electricity than the latest machines. If you can’t afford to upgrade to a newer model, you might like to consider leasing the equipment. This will put it in your workshop and allow you to pay for it in monthly instalments.

• Old machines should be replaced with newer, more efficient units
• The cost of investment is clawed back over time, within 2 years
• If you can’t afford to upgrade, you can lease the equipment to spread the cost

 
Service your heating and air conditioning systems

One of the most common causes of electricity overuse is heating and air conditioning systems that aren’t running at optimal efficiency. The reason for this is nearly always that they haven’t been servicing in a long time. Your heating and air conditioning systems should be services every 12 months to keep them working properly. If they aren’t, they won’t be as effective and they’ll more energy than normal.

• Air conditioning units should be serviced every 12-months
• Your boiler should also be serviced every 12-months
• If you have ceiling fans, make sure these are spinning properly

 
Service and maintain your refrigeration units

If you store chemicals or food produce in industrial refrigeration units, these should be serviced every 12-months without question. Your refrigeration units could be wasting energy in a variety of ways, from dodgy door seals leaking out cool air to the electric motor that powers the refrigeration process running poorly. You should also make sure the fridges are running on the proper setting, not too high or too low.

• Refrigeration units should be serviced every 12-months
• Any issues with door seals should be fixed promptly
• Make sure your refrigeration units are running on the correct setting

 
Building insulation

Building insulation is important for any industrial premises. Why? Because it doesn’t just keep a building warm – it helps keep it cool too. In the summer, it keeps cool air-conditioned air in. If your insulation isn’t up to scratch, you’ll find yourself booting up your heating system in the winter and your air conditioning system in the summer too often. This costs a lot, and really adds up over the space of a season.

• Invest in air tight doors – or just seal them better
• Invest in cavity wall insulation to make your building more efficient