Energy-saving Lighting Technologies: A Key to Sustainability

The effective utilisation of lighting in production facilities is an important factor in any sustainability strategy. An internationally active tool specialist serves as an example here. Its decision to switch to LED lighting and modern lighting technologies has not only enabled energy savings but has also made a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. This step is in line with the company’s long-term goals of halving CO2 emissions and producing products and packaging from predominantly recycled materials by 2030.

Sustainability aspects play a complex role in the metalworking industry. These range from the human rights context to environmental conditions in the mining of raw materials and the overall energy balance of the end products. Many of these factors are largely outside the direct control of the processing company. Optimising lighting, on the other hand, is a measure that can be directly influenced and has a significant impact. For example, the switch from fluorescent lamps to LED technology in two production buildings led to energy savings of around 40,000 kilowatt hours, which is almost half the previous energy consumption.

The Role of Lighting in Modern Production Facilities

The concept of modern, energy-efficient lighting technology is of great importance for production facilities. Not only in terms of energy efficiency but also with regard to ergonomic and safety-related aspects. Modern production facilities require differentiated lighting: while an illuminance level of 150 lux is often sufficient in storage areas, workstations at machines or in quality control require significantly higher light levels. It is also important to adapt the lighting to the individual needs of the employees in order to create ideal working conditions.

Incidentally, the switch to LED lighting was a proactive response to the EU regulation ISO 50001, which prohibits the sale of conventional light sources from September 2023. This means that there will no longer be any replacements for burnt-out tubes. In this respect, the fluorescent lamp strips previously used in two of the production buildings were converted to LED lamp strips. However, this is not just about compliance, but about a holistic, strategic view of corporate sustainability. By integrating the new lighting technologies into the building control system and using motion sensors, additional energy can be saved. In combination with daylight, this creates outstanding lighting conditions that are both energy-efficient and ergonomically favourable.

More than just Changing Light Bulbs

The effects of these changes are far-reaching. In addition to saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions, working conditions are also improved, which has a positive impact on the health and productivity of employees. Through these measures, the company is making a significant contribution to promoting sustainable, environmentally friendly production and setting new standards.

Lighting in production facilities is therefore more than just a question of energy efficiency. It is a comprehensive approach that combines ecological, economic and social sustainability and shows how companies can have a significant impact on the environment and their employees through targeted measures.

(Source: »Maschinenmarkt« trade magazine)

Photo: kichigin19