Renting and leasing means that you can use a product without owning it. This can be favourable, for example if you only need a certain tool once, or if it is a complex tool that needs a lot of maintenance, it is most likely a lot cheaper to rent or lease it than to buy it. By not buying an additional piece of equipment, this in turn spares the environment.
Since the 1950s, clean-in-place (CIP) systems have been reliably used to clean inside surfaces of tanks and pipelines in liquid process equipment to avoid costly downtime associated with lengthy dismantling and cleaning tasks. The technique covers a variety of areas, but its main purpose is to remove solids and bacteria from vessels and pipework. Industries that rely heavily on CIP are those requiring high levels of hygiene, such as food, beverage and pharmaceutical companies.
Sharing an asset with other companies can be done when you are not using the asset for 100%. An asset can be anything that you use to make your business run: from an oven for catering services to construction equipment, from a car to a server computer. Any business faces variations in orders and business. Sometimes your assets can't keep up and you need extra capacity, in lower business the assets are unused.
Eco-driving feels good
The UK's Energy Saving Trust offers practical training courses to organisations in Scotland through the FuelGood programme, a free one-to-one training in energy-efficient driving for employees driving a car or a van.
Driving for life... and the environment
Driving like a pro
Prodrive Learning is a Dutch SME offering mainly online training for companies to promote safe and fuel-efficient driving practices. The e-learning approach is based on measuring, training and motivating staff.
Generating and supplying compressed air is a very energy-intensive activity. Improving the energy efficiency of compressed-air equipment by implementing concrete measures can save more than 30 % of the total energy used.
The efficiency of such compressed air systems can be improved through simple changes, e. g. by adjusting the system pressure according to the actual demand as well as the required quality. Carbon Trust recommends the following efficiency measures:
Accelerating gently, avoiding high speeds, anticipating traffic... these are all energy efficient or ecodriving measures which can reduce fuel consumption and costs while decreasing carbon dioxide and air pollution. For example, fuel consumption and costs can both be reduced by 10 to 15 %, with an equivalent decrease in CO2 emissions.
Cutting waste in a systematic way will help SMEs to reduce cost and save material. A special waste-prevention plan will be very helpful in introducing such a systematic approach. It helps to understand where resources are used, where waste is generated, and to find and prioritise waste-reducing and resource-saving opportunities.
Tackling mounting energy and waste bills as business grows