Not-so power-full savings program

Employees at Imperial Tobacco’s Radom factory in Poland have helped reduce emissions and costs through the application of an energy saving program.

A pilot scheme has seen energy use cut by 19 per cent, carbon dioxide emissions reduced by 2,000 tonnes per annum and the factory’s annual energy bill fall by more than a fifth.

One of the biggest benefits was said to have resulted from engaging with the workforce to help find ways to save energy, such as through the use of more efficient lighting and air-conditioning.

‘Energy ambassadors’ have been appointed throughout the factory, a move that is said to have stimulated involvement in the scheme and the search for further savings.

“This programme has been perfect for the development of our people and the factory,” said Dariusz Kierasiński, project co-ordinator at Radom.

“Our energy ambassadors, along with a new energy management system to pinpoint areas of high usage, contributed to this success.”

Similar initiatives are due to get underway at plants in Logroño (Spain), Ain Harrouda (Morocco), Tarnowo (Poland), Nottingham (UK) and other sites during the next 12 months, with the aim of cutting Imperial’s global energy bill by £10 million by 2020.