Energy and Mines Magazine - Issue 34

Page 32

Opinion: Why Energy Conservation should be the Cornerstone of your Low Carbon Objectives. ANDREW COOPER ENERGY SPECIALIST NEW GOLD

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021 appears to be the year of net zero and carbon neutral position statements. Do you realise that it is going to cost you even more to achieve your low carbon objectives if your strategic plans are not built on a cornerstone of energy conservation? Why? Because energy conservation eliminates energy waste. Energy waste is a cunning adversary which slowly, but surely, eats away at your profits. A little over a month ago, I put an item I planned to return to the store in an “obvious place” where I could not miss it. Guess what? After a couple of weeks, it became part of the furniture. It was hiding in plain sight and I forgot about it. Energy waste is like that. From the small and seemingly insignificant, lights left on and compressed air leaks for example, to the large and ignored, like conveyors left running or vehicles idling, energy waste hides in plain sight. Each instance costs you money and these instances add up. In fact, this waste can account for up to 10% of your annual energy expense. For a mining company, where energy is typically the second biggest expense after employee salaries and benefits, waste

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ENERGY AND MINES MAGAZINE


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