Winstone Aggregates – on the road to energy efficiency
Winstone Aggregates National Manufacturing Manager, Jason Lowe (left) with James Boyce, President of the Aggregate and Quarry Association
2008 is the first year this award has been made – to the company that has made significant improvements in their energy efficiency and conservation measures within their operations.
Winstone Aggregates is taking major steps to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact and in doing so has won the inaugural Aggregate and Quarry Association of NZ Award for Energy Efficiency, sponsored by Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA).
General Manager, Bernie Chote, says there were a number of drivers behind managing energy consumption. Focusing on energy efficiencies not only reduces Winstone Aggregates environmental impact, but it is also crucial in improving the bottom line. Fuel and electricity use accounts for 10% of Winstone Aggregates expenditure.
In keeping with the company’s vision, Economic Growth through Sustainable Practices, an Energy Policy was developed in 2007 and since then has led to a variety of initiatives including plant and site energy audits, productivity versus energy consumption analysis, fleet audits, bio-diesel and hybrid trials. An audit at three of the company?s 27 sites identified yearly energy savings of up to 560MW per annum with a reduction in carbon emissions of 130,000kgs.
National Manufacturing Manager, Jason Lowe, believes that the efficient use of energy is becoming a key factor in every business. Particularly he says the quarrying industry, which as a large user, has a responsibility to consume energy efficiently. ?Winstone Aggregates are committed to doing this – we are delighted to have won the Award as recognition of our achievements to date, but the challenge is just beginning. I urge other industry members to get on board and enter for the 2009 Energy Efficiency Award.
The $10,000 prize from EECA will contribute towards completing energy initiatives identified during recent audits as well as an analytical review of the energy savings achieved as a direct result of the programme.