3M Prairie du Chien’s Facility takes a Comprehensive Approach to Energy
Management
3M Prairie du Chien’s Energy Management Team was formed in 2004 and over the last three years energy use at the plant has decreased 22 percent, resulting in more than $1 million in annual savings.
Some of the team’s many energy management projects include
- partnering with the local electric utility via Lean Six Sigma projects to find ways to reduce electrical costs;
- converting the site to more energy-efficient and brighter lighting;
- and optimizing the site’s thermal oxidizer to reduce natural gas usage.
Future projects include supplementing the site’s natural gas with steam from a local hardwood dealer.
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3M's Brookings SD Facility Installs More Efficient Pollution Control Technology
3M's Brookings, SD facility recently replaced its existing fume incinerator with a highly energy efficient regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) connected to a heat recovery steam generator. The Brookings plant now captures and destroys an additional 1.3 million lbs of solvent vapor per year. Natural gas consumption, both to destroy the solvent emissions and to generate plant steam, has been reduced by approximately 220,0000,000 BTUs/yr, an 84% reduction. This directly results in 11,684 prevented tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
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3M Poland Improves Heating Efficiency and Reduces Natural Gas Use
A pollution prevention team from 3M Poland's Wroclaw facility reduced natural gas use and greenhouse gas emissions by improving heating efficiency throughout the Wroclaw facility. The team reduced natural gas use by more than 5,000 Btus annually by implementing the following improvements to the facility's heating program: reducing heating in storage areas, upgrading steam driven equipment, and upgrading the heating system controls so that it is possible to better regulate heat throughout the facility and avoid unnecessary heating. Together, these changes not only reduced the facility's energy footprint, but will save 3M Poland over $50,000 annually.
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3M France Reduces Energy Costs through Multiple Approaches
An energy team composed of employees and managers in 3M France implemented multiple programs that reduced energy costs by $440,000. Their work has led to some best practices that are now in place throughout 3M France facilities. The efforts focused on minimizing energy costs, identifying energy saving opportunities, and sharing and implementing best practices. Among the energy saving projects are large-scale energy audits and a continuous improvement initiative that encourages maintenance operators to submit energy-saving ideas based on their hands-on assessments of opportunities to reduce energy use.
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3M UK Saves Energy with Building Management System
At 3M Aycliffe, UK, an employee developed a building management system that earned a 3M Chairman's Leadership Award for significant energy savings. The system exceeded company energy reduction targets by 10 percent for electricity usage and by 33 percent for gas used over a five-year period. That is the equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide air emissions by 8,000 tons.
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