26 January 2012

Smarter compressed air use could save factories £110m says Carbon Trust

Manufacturers could save up to £110m a year by taking simple low and no cost actions to improve their compressed air systems and processes, according to new guidance published by the Carbon Trust.

The Trust claims that, contrary to perception, compressed air is not a free or low cost resource and accounts for around 10% of UK industry's electricity consumption – equivalent to the annual output of nearly 1.5 power stations and over 5 million tonnes of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere.

The new guide provides advice on choosing an air compressor, maintenance, leak prevention and using compressed air appropriately. By following simple measures, a typical industrial firm could save £1,500 a year, it says.

Carbon Trust director Richard Rugg points out that just a single 3mm hole in a compressed air system creates a leak that can cost a business an additional £1,000 a year.

The Compressed Air Overview guide is part of the Carbon Trust's Expert in Energy series. The Trust is also running a free webinar on how to significantly reduce running costs and improve the efficiency of compressed air systems at 12pm, 30 January 2012. The guides can be downloaded and a webinar place booked at www.carbontrust.co.uk/expertinenergy.

Author
Ken Hurst

Supporting Information

Companies
The Carbon Trust

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