Associates Drive SiG Progress at Mars Food Bolton

Sept. 24, 2014 /3BL Media/ - Associates Craig Heffernan and Peter Low, with Sam Dodd and Ron Langridge (from left to right), from Mars Food in Bolton, Canada, have saved the equivalent of the energy needed to power 85 homes for a year, and enough water to sustain 65 families for the same period.

They worked with the site’s 50 Associates to design a new Energy Measurement System. Newly installed meters on the plant’s primary and secondary energy sources enable Associates to track and report by shift the site’s total use of water, high-pressure air, gas, electricity and steam. A real time website displays how much energy the site is using.

The system allows Associates to see first-hand the impacts of their efforts to improve efficiency. Observing positive change inspired them to strive for further reductions. In the 12 months from September 2010 to September 2011, the Bolton site reduced energy use by 15 percent and cut energy bills by nine percent.

“These are huge numbers for a small site like ours. So far, we have saved the business US$97,000,” said Peter Low, Engineering Director for Mars Food North America. Peter is not the only person impressed by the results. The Bolton site received our global 2011 Make the Difference Planet award for creating such an energy-conscious working culture.

Sustainability has become part of the culture at the Bolton site, fully integrated into daily operations. Since 2011, Associates' efforts have driven a further 6.5 percent reduction in energy consumption and a 3.5 percent decrease in water use – while production volumes have increased by 7 percent. The site is not done yet either – it plans for another 10 percent energy cut and 3 percent water reduction in 2013!