Manufacturers have been advised to implement energy conservation measures now to ensure mandatory compliance with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) deadline of the 5 December 2015.
A recent energy conservation event held by Eriks UK, in conjunction with Festo, a leading supplier of pneumatic and electrical automation technology, was designed to raise awareness of the causes and solutions available to help business conserve energy, not only to meet ESOS criteria, but to also aid industry as it strives to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050.
ESOS was introduced to aid the UK in meeting its emissions target and is a compulsory government initiative for larger businesses (those with more than 250 members of staff or turnover in excess of circa £40m), requiring them to undertake regular audits of their energy consumption and potential energy saving opportunities.
Manufacturers must conduct their ESOS assessment by 5 December 2015 or risk financial penalties ranging from £5,000 to £50,000.
The Eriks ECO Event was attended by industry professionals from a range of industrial backgrounds who, through a series of presentations and exhibitions, were provided with expert advice and insight on how to conserve energy through condition monitoring, lighting solutions, pump operation, drives and power transmission, and compressed air.
Chris Hall, energy manager at Eriks UK, said: “The UK’s manufacturing industry by nature uses heavy machinery requiring vast amounts of energy to operate and will be hugely effected by the implementation of ESOS. Although legislation is brought into force to help industry operate to the best of its potential, it can often be confusing.
“Through the Eriks ECO Event, we have provided a platform for industry professionals to gain a better understanding of the new government initiative and measures they can take to ensure they meet the required criteria. ESOS should be embraced and presents manufacturers and the engineering sectors with the opportunity to implement real changes to how their business operates, helping to reduce energy usage and overall carbon footprint. This can only be a good thing in the long term.”
