Energy audit drives efficiency savings and emissions reductions

• Sustainability initiative
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Sustainability goal: environmental

Bruks Siwertell Group aims to halve its carbon emissions by 2030, compared with 2019 levels, and to source 100 percent renewable electricity within the same timeframe. As part of this environmental sustainability drive, a number of the Group’s business areas are conducting energy audits to identify areas where energy savings can be made.
 
FTG Cranes, based in Bäckefors, Sweden, is one of the Group’s market-leading companies within the forestry technology sector. Its products, which include cranes and trailer equipment, are designed for durability and efficiency, helping customers manage forests in a sustainable way.

To contribute to the Group’s environmental sustainability targets, FTG Cranes initiated an in-depth energy audit aimed at identifying opportunities for energy savings, emission reductions, and cost efficiency. 

Solution and results

The energy audit at FTG Cranes provided a detailed overview of the Bäckefors site’s energy consumption, revealing eleven improvement measures with distinct economic and environmental benefits. 

Several key actions include:
•    Installing water-based heating systems in office areas currently without them, significantly reducing electricity consumption.
•    Introducing a new heat recovery ventilation unit (FTX) to reclaim exhaust heat, lower heating demand, and enhance indoor working conditions.
•    Upgrading lighting to modern LED fixtures and optimizing base electrical loads for greater efficiency.
•    Improving draft sealing and insulation in buildings to minimize heat loss and improve personnel comfort.

“The energy audit has provided a clear roadmap for improving both efficiency and sustainability,” says Ulf Godtman, Quality and Aftermarket Manager, FTG Cranes. “By analyzing energy usage and implementing targeted improvements, we can not only support the Group’s wider climate ambitions and achieve tangible cost reductions, but also actively contribute to environmental responsibility and the transition toward a sustainable future.

“Many of the measures deliver rapid returns and can be implemented with relatively modest investments, underlining the effectiveness of systematic energy management,” Godtman adds.
Together, the energy audit measures are projected to reduce annual energy use by approximately 83 MWh of electricity and 66 MWh of heating, resulting in a total annual cost saving of around USD 20,000 (SEK 188,000). The required investment of USD 66,500 (SEK 627,000) offers an average payback time of just over three years.

Beyond immediate cost savings, energy audits demonstrate how data-driven decision-making can accelerate the transition toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient future, and they should be considered an effective first step in any energy-reduction strategy.

Monitoring and assessing sustainability milestones and achievements

Bruks Siwertell Group’s sustainability goals are assessed from an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) perspective, with each initiative falling into one or more of these categories. This is to clarify how different initiatives impact our overall sustainability work, and how their results can be used to maximum effect. It also contributes to our commitment to transparency. All aspects of our sustainability work are designed to be educational, so that we increase our knowledge and adjust our ambitions accordingly.