When it comes to saving energy, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Australia’s manufacturing sector is left a little lacking. According to a recent Government energy report, the manufacturing industry accounts for up to 18% of Australia’s overall energy consumption. While the idea of cutting energy costs may be a little daunting for many Western Australian manufacturing businesses – particularly those who operate at high production levels – there are a number of practices that can be adopted to positively impact energy consumption levels. In turn, these have the potential to save you money as well as reducing the impact on the environment.
1. Put together an energy management team
One of the main reasons why energy-saving initiatives fail in the manufacturing sector is because it’s unclear whose responsibility it is. If you don’t already have a dedicated person who is managing the energy usability within the business, try putting together an energy management team. Bring to the table the people who already have an incentive to keep costs low, and let them work on a systematic way to monitor energy usage through the facility. Try offering an incentive that can be linked to the amount of energy the team saves to give them some additional motivation.
- Schedule machinery use
When it comes to using energy, several utilities provide peak and off-peak hours as an incentive to use energy outside of peak hours. In turn, you will get to enjoy lower rates. Try looking into which machinery costs the most to run, and consider scheduling it to run during off-peak hours or shoulder periods. In Western Australia, several utilities offer an off-peak period from 10pm to 8am during the week, and all weekend. They also offer small manufacturers tariffs to make the energy-saving process easier.
3. Improve HVAC efficiency
If your manufacturing business in the process of building a new facility, significant energy savings can often be made through design. Examples of energy-efficient design options include:
- Insulating the walls and ceiling during the build
- Choosing LED when it comes to lighting
- Rooms and facilities that can be closed off in order to minimise heating and cooling requirements
- Avoiding lost heat and cooling through windows by installing double-glazing or heavy duty-blinds or shutters
- When installing heating and cooling systems, choose those that have an energy rating, as well as the option to turn the systems onto an economy cycle
4. Optimise motor systems
Motor systems such as air compressors, pumps and fans are a huge drain on energy resources in Western Australia’s manufacturing sector. Some systems are poorly designed, while others are not regularly maintained. Ensure all motor systems are upgraded every few years, and that old equipment is replaced and maintained.
If you’d like to learn about how automation solutions can streamline your manufacturing needs, give Auto Controls a call on 9258 4555.
