Nissan has reduced energy use by $10 million a year at its Smyrna, Tenn., factory, reports ReliablePlant.
The energy savings come as a result of Nissan working with the Department of Energy, which recently recognized Nissan during a tour of the facility, reports the Tennessean.
Upgrades to the plant included:
- Installation of variable-frequency drives
- Reduction in the number of air compressors
- Lowering of air pressure
- Chiller upgrades and replacement
- Lighting fixture and controls upgrades
By shutting down production line robots when not in use over the weekend, the factory is saving 22,000 kilowatt hours.
Lighting upgrades in the stamping part of the factory, including installing lighting timers, resulted in $125,000 in savings, helping the plant reduce energy 9 percent when it's not in operation.
About 40 companies toured the Nissan facility during the April 9 “Save Energy Now LEADER Industrial Sustainability and Energy Management Showcase.”
Among automakers, Nissan is not alone in its efforts to save energy at factories.
The Chrysler Group has saved more than $50 million a year through a variety of environmental and energy efficiency moves. The company has been able to reduce its CO2 emissions by 370,000 metric tons a year, or about the same as the emissions from four large manufacturing plants.
