Arla Foods’ lighting turns the milk green

Vita Energia today announced that Arla Foods, one of Europe’s largest dairy companies, has implemented lighting energy efficiency projects at its Oakthorpe and Hatfield sites in the UK. The projects, completed over the last 18 months, included converting almost all of the light fittings at both sites with Vita Energia’s technology for saving energy. It also improved the quality of light in many areas. The projects were part of the company’s overall energy saving plan and the result impacts a total of 600 workers across the two sites.

It is estimated that around 700 tonnes of CO2 saving will be made, saving approximately £100,000 in electricity bills and 1.4million kWh in total power reduction every year. The project will pay for itself in saving in 10 months.

After an audit at Arla Foods’ Oakthorpe site it became clear that an ideal place to start reducing the energy bill was the lighting. Some areas were over-illuminated while other areas were dimly lit, and one area that was hardly ever accessed, was lit up 24/7. Engineers from Vita Energia installed low energy fittings and movement detection sensors.

Bill Dickson, project manager of the South of the UK, Arla Foods, commented: “At Arla Foods, we are extremely aware of the environmental implications of running a large company, and our corporate energy saving plan dictates a reduction of 3% of energy consumption year on year. This lighting energy efficiency project is helping us reach that target, and what’s more, it has created a better working environment across the two sites. We discovered that lighting is an ideal first place to look when trying to make energy reduction savings.”

Arla Foods also invested in the project to help follow targets enshrined within The Milk Roadmap, set out by The Dairy Supply Chain Forum, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of the dairy sector.

Director of Vita Energia Andrew Hoy commented: “As a recognised leader in their industry in engineering and production operations, Arla Foods enthusiastically grasped the opportunity presented by our lighting energy saving capability. Together we have implemented this highly successful transition at two of the UK’s major dairy processing sites. Among the direct cost-savings benefits, the highest levels of environmental standards are vital to continue to supply major supermarket supply chains.

Hoy added: “Electricity used by lighting can account for a substantial part of a company’s electricity costs, and is one of easiest places to target energy savings with a fast payback, in this case just ten months. Lighting is an often overlooked and always ‘low hanging fruit’ for energy saving, and by retrofitting the latest energy-saving technology into existing light fittings, facilities managers are able to reduce electricity usage and carbon emissions considerably, without the time and expense associated with ‘rip and replace’-projects.”

www.vitaenergia.net

www.arlafoods.co.uk