Energy saving projects
Sagit's frozen food factory in Cisterna, near Rome, worked in partnership with Unilever's Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC) to launch a pilot project in 2000 to save energy. This helped to reduce energy use at the site by 6.7% during 2003, compared with 2002.
An energy audit was carried out to identify many low- or no-cost measures to reduce the site's energy use. The existing system to eliminate breakdowns, defects and other inefficiencies was extended to monitor energy use, establish performance standards and set targets for reducing energy use.
The amount of energy used for lighting at the site was cut by 35% by reducing the applied voltage, saving about €50 000 a year. New freezers have been installed, requiring only half the power of conventional models and a new system for generating compressed air has cut energy use in this process by 5%. A pilot project is using biogas released during treatment of wastewater to power part of the treatment plant, saving energy equivalent to 400 000 kilowatt hours each year.
An assessment of Sagit's ice cream factory in Caivano near Naples also identified areas where energy could be saved, and a system for targeting these areas and monitoring progress has been set up. This resulted in a reduction in total energy use at Caivano of 8.7% up to the end of 2003, compared with 2001. The amount of energy saved is equivalent to generating about 600 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
