Bowson Engineering Ltd is a family run company; established in 1991, they provide a range of bespoke manufacturing services that includes welding, punching and mild steel fabrication. The company also manufacture a list of standard products, which include bicycle shelters, safety barriers and work benches.
The business is located at Stoke-on-Trent for past 15 years with office, manufacturing and workshop accommodation. Building is of steel portal frame construction; with part metal cladding and part solid block work infill, dating back to the 1960’s. Adjoining the portal frame is a masonry/ block work single storey extension, providing a reception area and private offices.
LCBEP Recommendation
Bowson Engineering suggested that the current heating in the factory is inefficient – the heating replacements will give a better comfortable working environment for the staff. Will reduce our carbon footprint compared with current usage. The gas bill will reduce considerable thus enabling financial savings to invest on other areas such as growing the business, employing trainees etc
Specialist low carbon consultant Environmental Solutions through Partnership (ESP) visited Bowson Engineering Ltd to undertake a free LCBEP energy review that looked at all aspects of the business; existing EMS, vehicles and transportation, buildings, insulation and glazing, heating, cooling and lighting.
LCBEP Grant
Bowson Engineering successfully applied for a grant for this work, which totalled £13,969, and received their grant of £8,381.43 in 2018.
Taking into account Bowson Engineering Ltd’s contribution of £5,587 and their estimated annual savings of £3,712, their project payback period is calculated as 1.5 years!
1) LED Lighting & PIR sensors
On inspection it was suggested to replace all existing T8 lightings to LED. In addition replacing switch start fittings with high frequency LED alternatives will make substantial energy savings.
This would potentially deliver annual energy saving of 786 kWh, cost saving of £2,579 and carbon emission savings of 0.3 TCO2e.
2) Infra-red Heating
It was suggested that the existing gas blow heating to the shop floor could be replaced with more efficient and controllable far infrared panels that have a reduced wattage due to the higher efficacy of the technology and better heat distribution through ceiling mounting the panels.
Installing infrared heaters in place of gas and electric fan heating, energy savings of 69,351 kWh per annum, representing an energy cost saving of £276 and a carbon emission saving of 10.0 TCO2e.
3) Boiler Replacement
Replacing the existing boiler, operating at 75% efficiency with a combi boiler operating at an efficiency of 95%, will have annual energy savings of 2,027 kWh/ annum, Cost saving of £348/ annum and carbon emission savings of 0.85 TCO2e/ annum.