FMCSA has made great strides in innovative energy reduction initiatives at its Silverton Assembly Plant, north of Pretoria, and won all three categories it entered (Environmental Leadership, Environmental Benefit and Financial Impact) for its Departmental Electricity Metering and Monitoring System.
In the past Ford relied entirely on the electricity billing information provided by the municipality. This meant there was no means of identifying departments that consumed more electricity than others, making it difficult to drive an effective energy-saving programme.
In order to combat these challenges FMCSA introduced the Departmental Electricity Metering and Monitoring System. Planning began in 2009 with the system being implemented in December 2010.
FMCSA is now able to monitor real-time electricity usage by department and plot usage trends over extended periods. Understanding how and where power is utilised means that opportunities to reduce usage can be easily identified and departments can be accountable for their own consumption. Each department has been allocated a usage target that is continually monitored. If they begin to reach their specified peak, an SMS or email will notify the relevant departments and action can be taken proactively to reduce power consumption.
FMCSA expects to see a five percent reduction in energy usage within the first year of implementing the Departmental Electricity Metering and Monitoring System. The five percent saving will be over and above the savings already achieved through other initiatives implemented by the company, with further savings expected as departments begin to become more accountable for their consumption.
South Africa is the first of Ford's global markets to implement such an initiative and has now set the benchmark for other countries to aspire to. In addition to a significant cost saving, the reduction in usage will aid in FMCSA's aims to reduce its carbon foot print, ensuring long-term sustainability and minimised environmental impact.
"We're extremely proud of the award we have received," said Jeff Nemeth, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa. "We expect to see both a financial and environmental benefit as a result of this initiative. We'd also like to thank all of our staff for the role they are playing. The campaign is hinged around each department's ability to be accountable for their energy usage and actively take steps towards reducing it."
