Smarter compressed air use could save factories £110m says Carbon Trust

The Trust claims that, contrary to perception, compressed air is not a free or low cost resource and accounts for around 10% of UK industry's electricity consumption – equivalent to the annual output of nearly 1.5 power stations and over 5 million tonnes of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere. The new guide provides advice on choosing an air compressor, maintenance, leak prevention and using compressed air appropriately. By following simple measures, a typical industrial firm could save £1,500 a year, it says. Carbon Trust director Richard Rugg points out that just a single 3mm hole in a compressed air system creates a leak that can cost a business an additional £1,000 a year. The Compressed Air Overview guide is part of the Carbon Trust's Expert in Energy series. The Trust is also running a free webinar on how to significantly reduce running costs and improve the efficiency of compressed air systems at 12pm, 30 January 2012. The guides can be downloaded and a webinar place booked at www.carbontrust.co.uk/expertinenergy.