Armstrong Fluid Technology’s sustainability initiative – Planet Proposition – is celebrating a highly successful third year, with significant energy savings achieved via its HVAC solutions, investment in operational environmental goals and continued engagement with local communities.
The Planet Proposition sustainability initiative kicked off in 2013, with leadership teams in Armstrong sites in Canada, USA, China, India and the UK signing up to the Charter. It has three strands: Our Solutions (energy efficient systems which help customers reduce energy consumption, save money and lower carbon emissions); Our Environment (improved environmental performance in company operations); and Our Community (educating and supporting Armstrong stakeholders and neighbours to make environmentally responsible choices at work and at home).
Our Solutions: Since the introduction of the Energy Savings Dashboard, Armstrong Design Envelope HVAC solutions have saved customers almost 815 million kWh of energy, representing a carbon saving of more than 270,000 tonnes of CO2, and a cost saving of almost £60.6 million. This year has seen a particular commitment to drive down energy consumption in data centres and district energy schemes, and has included an extensive biomass renewables project for Bernard Matthews (Britain’s largest turkey producer). Keys to the success of Armstrong solutions include demand-based control (matching energy usage automatically to varying requirements for heating and cooling throughout the day), off-site manufacture, and advanced system integration (to optimise the energy efficient operation of each system component). Armstrong’s Design Envelope solutions are also helping customers to reduce their carbon footprint by offering outstanding energy efficient performance across a wider range of operating conditions than ever before.
Our Environment: As part of Planet Proposition, Armstrong sites in Canada, USA, China, India and the UK are committed to reducing their own monthly electricity, gas and water consumption. Comprehensive monitoring was introduced across Armstrong sites back in 2014. Data loggers on gas, electricity and water meters feed through to Armstrong’s Eco-Pulse platform to provide current and historical consumption data. To build on this, sites have introduced reduction targets for water and energy consumption, and teams are working towards these, led by local Planet Proposition Champions. A particular success story is the installation (in December 2015) of a 250 kilowatt peak (kWp) solar PV system at Armstrong’s Manchester factory, covering a roof area of 1,550m2. The investment is estimated to provide an electricity output of approximately 200,000 kWh per year, and is already satisfying a significant proportion of the site’s energy demand.
Energy is also being saved thanks to newly-installed rapid action doors at Armstrong’s UK sites, and further progress has been made towards the company’s Waste Minimisation and Recycling Targets with the introduction of improved waste segregation processes.
Our Community: A wide range of community projects have been organised throughout the year, encompassing fundraising for local good causes, employee health and wellbeing initiatives, links with education and local training outreach programmes, and the organisation of green awareness days. This summer has seen the final of Armstrong’s UK competition for schools, which is now in its fourth year. This year’s challenge saw 250 children from 11 local schools (in the Birmingham and Manchester areas near to Armstrong sites) enter the ‘Buildings of the Future’ competition. Children in the Key Stage 2 age-group created posters of their ideal energy-saving building of the future. The shortlisted finalists travelled to The Crystal in London on June 23rd for the prize-giving event. There was a £500 prize for the winning school, and four prizes of £100 for the runners-up. Each participating school will receive a School Garden Starter Kit
Steve Cooper, Armstrong Fluid Technology’s Director – Sustainable Design commented, “Since it was adopted in 2013, our Planet Proposition has developed significantly and has become increasingly embedded in our everyday business practices. Employees in all of our plants around the world have embraced the initiative and have been actively involved in projects which are reducing the environmental impact of operations in our own sites and those of our customers. We will continue to develop our capabilities in this area and strive to make these practices a key part of our business culture.”