www.bcas.org.uk

Energy Savings & The Environment

Here is a set of 9 useful posters each giving a practical message to save money. If you would like to purchase printed copies of these posters then visit our Publications page.

Energy Saving Tips

Here are some basic tips that will save you real money.

• Walk through your factory and identify all compressed air uses and, if possible, the flow and pressure requirements of each.
• Program to eliminate any inappropriate uses of compressed air.
• Determine the cost of compressed air for your factory by periodically monitoring the compressor operating hours and load cycle.
• All equipment in the compressed air system should be maintained in accordance with manufacturers specifications.
• Set a reasonable target for cost-effective leak reduction - up to 10% of total system flow is typical for industrial applications.
• Once leaks are repaired re-asses your compressed air system supply.
• A rule of thumb is that every 2psi increase in operating pressure requires an additional 1% in operating costs.
• Air flow to unused equipment should be shut-off as far back in the system as possible.
• Reduce the distance the air travels through the distribution system.
• Check with the compressor supplier for performance specifications at different discharge pressures.

Energy Audit

If this is your company, then contact the Society or a Distributor Charter Holder for an energy audit. Visit www.compressedairaudits.org for more information.

1. You can't remember if "CFM" is a pneumatics term or an accounting term.
2. Your plant engineer's desk drawer is full of two-part epoxy leak repair kits.
3. Your compressor house looks like a Flash Gordon rocket ship film set.
4. Your compressor house has been used for a Flash Gordon film set.
5. You find your staff reading case studies for energy saving products with amazing pseudo-scientific claims.
6. You find your staff is writing case studies for energy saving products with amazing pseudo-scientific claims.
7. You have "someone" in the company who is in charge of the compressors but cannot remember' their name.
8. There is more cooling tower water on the roof than in the cooling tower.
9. Despite deregulation in the industry the utility companies stocks are performing better than yours.
10. Your maintenance contractor has a much higher standard of living than you do.