Better environmental balance for company and customers
Environmentally related activities affect all business processes – from research and development to production up to logistics and transport. It is correspondingly important that a contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving energy is made at every level. The HVAC Division has paid special attention to these topics for many years and is continually taking new measures to improve the environmental balance further. A consistent reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions not only makes an important contribution to protecting the environment and resources – it can also improve economic efficiency and the market position as a result. The topic of energy efficiency, which is important for optimising production, is naturally also considered in advance when developing new products: In this way, the HVAC Division ensures that the environmental balance of the customers is also improved by energy-saving products.
Saving energy – and producing it ourselves
The HVAC Division has been dealing with the topic of energy efficiency for many years – at the latest since various production sites were certified according to the strict ISO standards 14001 and 50001, which demand continuous monitoring of the energy key figures, among other things. Monitoring and assessment of the energy efficiency within the division are therefore standard – as is a systematic procedure that is ensured by clear responsibilities and the company's own energy officers. These officers from the areas of production and logistics ensure that the goals in the area of energy are met. As in the past years, the energy management has concentrated on the largest consumers: With further investments in modern production plants and energy-saving LED lighting, it has been possible to reduce the electricity consumption. For example, Sabiana has optimised the electricity consumption for the new coating line. Thanks to the installation of LED lights in the halls SAB 2 and 3, it has been possible to reduce the annual energy consumption by 130 000 kW/h. The new plant also has a lower gas consumption.
At the same time, the division has increased the electricity generation with its own photovoltaic systems, so that more and more sites can produce a large part of their electricity requirement themselves. The company's own wind power turbine with an output of 2 megawatts at the Vasco site Dilsen (BE) as well as the installation of low-temperature heating/cooling equipment that was carried out in the reporting year at Vasco as well also help to optimise the energy balance. Kermi has also continued the targeted optimisation of the entire vehicle fleet in Plattling (D) according to the emission standard "Euro 6", which will reduce the CO2 emission of the division by at least 400 tonnes per year. The division is also systematically pursuing the strategy adopted to construct an integrated, CO2-free system for an efficient and energy-conscious generation, transfer and storage of heat. For example, Kermi will be investing in a highly efficient, gas-operated CHP plant at the Plattling (D) site in 2022, which will lead to CO2 savings in the amount of at least 425 tonnes annually. In Czech Opočno and Stříbro, state-of-the-art energy standards are taken into account in the new construction of a new heat pump production plant and in the investment in new compressors. The reduction of energy consumption is analysed and monitored at these sites in the framework of Six Sigma projects, a management system for process improvement.