5 things you need to know about greening your factory

1. Consumers care about companies’ carbon footprints more than ever. Today’s consumers want to support brands they feel are aligned with their own quickly evolving environmental values. Researchers at NYU’s Stern business school found that 50% of consumer-packaged goods growth from 2013 to 2018 came from sustainability-marketed products, and products marketed as sustainable grew 5.6x faster during that period than those that were not. Similarly, a 2020 Forrester study found that 68% of highly empowered consumers work to actively identify and support brands that reduce their environmental impact.

    

2. What’s more, consumers are starting to look at the whole supply chain. It’s clear that for automobile manufacturers to reach environmentally conscious consumers, they must not only produce more environmentally friendly vehicles, but they must also build sustainability focused brands. At the same time, the pandemic has put a brighter spotlight on automotive supply chains, illuminating for consumers the “brands behind the brand.” To help ensure their environmental values are being met throughout their entire supply chains, manufacturers are holding themselves, their suppliers, and their vendors to higher and higher energy-efficiency standards.

    

   

   © Rittal

3. Sustainability initiatives save money. New and significant investments in corporate sustainability programs are being driven not only by consumer demand but also by government regulations. But this increased focus on sustainability goals is creating an added benefit for manufacturers: cost savings. Even the simple act of replacing worn-out, inefficient industrial air conditioners with more efficient models can reduce energy usage and costs; for example, Rittal customers who have switched to energy-efficient air conditioners and chillers have reported energy savings of up to 70%.

    

4. Industrial automation architects have an opportunity to lead the way. Automation increases efficiency, but it also requires PLCs, which in turn require power distribution and enclosures that are adequately cooled. As manufacturers look to reduce their energy usage by honing in on more efficient climate control for their industrial automation systems, engineers, panel builders, and system integrators will be called upon to design and execute automation systems that not only accomplish the task at hand but do so as efficiently as possible.

    

5. Energy efficiency starts with enclosure climate control design. Control panel builders have their work cut out for them. Electrical systems are becoming increasingly compact and the number of circuits per unit volume is growing, leading to higher heat generation per unit volume. Consistent temperature control is the best prerequisite for a long service life of electrical components and the enclosure itself, and achieving that consistent temperature starts in the design phase.

What is the best way to efficiently achieve the ideal climate inside an enclosure, in order to protect sensitive electronic devices inside the enclosure while also minimizing unnecessary energy usage and meeting company-wide sustainability objectives? Download our latest white paper, How to Achieve the Perfect Climate Inside Your Enclosure, to find out

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

https://www.rittal.com/us-en_US/