First you need to know your starting point, then you need to set a realistic goal, make a plan to reach it, and finally implement the necessary actions to make it happen. That’s pretty much the recipe – with a good dose of common sense thrown in – Müller Gas Equipment has used and continues to use in its efforts to emit less CO2.
And the recipe works. Since 2017, the company has reduced its emissions from 850 to 557 tons per year. In the same period, the share of renewable energy has grown from 21.7 to 40.8 percent.
The company self-declared their CO2 emissions for scope 1 and 2 via the Danish Business Authority’s CO2 calculator, and since then there has been an annual follow-up so they can follow the development – and the good results.
– Getting an overview of our CO2 emissions helps us to concretize our future green initiatives, says Joan Held, CFO.
Over the years, Müller Gas Equipment has, among other things, switched all lighting to LED, introduced monthly air pressure checks to detect energy-sucking leaks and in 2010 the company switched to district heating. The company has since launched initiatives to make better use of district heating while lowering the return temperature – and the price the company has to pay to return the water.
Saves 150 tons
Müller Gas Equipment is looking at payback periods of up to 8 years. This enables them to save a lot of money – and not least CO2. In 2021, the company had an energy screening done, which, among other things, highlighted the savings potential of reusing the heat from the gas ovens to heat one of the production halls. An investment that will save the company 16.1 tons of CO2 and DKK 46,258 annually. As the payback time of the project turned out to be just 3.5 years, Müller Gas Equipment can raise the green bar by electrifying the process as well. This means a slightly longer payback time, but greener energy consumption.
-An energy screening, like the one we had done, is a great tool for creating an overview of the potential. At the same time, we can keep the initiatives in mind for a time when the investment fits in,” says Bo M. Christensen, Sales & Marketing Director.
Investing in climate and customer care
Another option identified by the energy screening is the installation of solar panels. The company has made estimates for four different locations on buildings, on the company’s field or as a parking lot cover. If all four investments are realized, the company will achieve aCO2 saving of approximately 150 tons. This means there will be 150 fewer tons to worry about when theCO2 tax is introduced in 2025. The payback time on this project is just over 5 years and it is currently awaiting the board’s decision.
Right now, Müller Gas Equipment is also working on another project to utilize the company’s surplus heat.
While Müller Gas Equipment is proud to be doing its part to help take better care of the climate, the company makes no secret of the fact that it hopes its green investments are also an investment in future customer care.
– Larger companies will be required to report on their sustainability efforts andCO2 emissions in 2024, and there’s no doubt that this will lead to questions for us as suppliers. We therefore hope that being at the forefront of customer expectations will give us a competitive advantage,” says Bo M. Christensen.