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Taking control of your energy efficiency

30 October 2023

As serious as the energy issue is for food and beverage manufacturers, things do not need to be complicated too, argues Ian Gadsby, Managing Director at YLEM Energy.

In common with many other energy-hungry industry sectors, food and beverage manufactures have been grappling with the fast-rising cost of energy in recent years.

Thankfully, there are many quick wins that can help reduce energy consumption. The first step in being able to realise energy efficiency is being able to obtain a comprehensive picture of the current energy usage across facilities, shining a spotlight on the most intensive processes and presenting opportunities for optimisation.

Intelligent energy management systems are a must to ensure a building is using energy as efficiently as it can be. Building Management Systems (BMS) can improve energy efficiency by up to 40% for a typical food business, which can be as simple as automatically turning off lights and closing doors in rooms that are empty, or controlling heating and hot water to ensure it is optimised to its full potential. In chilled facilities, we have seen that reducing fan speed by 20% can bring consumption down significantly, equivalent to 50% less electricity used. Across the sector, we have also seen companies installing LED lighting, upgrading boilers, and opting for ovens with enhanced insulation to avoid wasting energy on maintaining consistent temperatures. 

Reducing energy consumption is not only an objective that brings bills down, it can also go a long way to reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, taking advantage of ample roof space to install solar panels can allow an organisation to take control of its own energy supply, complimenting intelligent energy consumption. A typical large UK processing facility, with a 19,000 square meter roof, has the potential to provide 2,900,000 kWh of clean energy per year through solar PV. 

Energy efficiency doesn’t have to be a headache and it doesn’t have to dominate your balance sheet. BMS and on-site energy generation requires no up-front capital investment. Employing intelligent BMS can reveal opportunities for energy efficiency. Take control of the energy you use, take control of where you procure your energy, and you take control of your energy costs.


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