Energy Efficiency

• When the building was built, the management at Nuglas installed a waste wood burner to heat the company’s offices and hot water (see photo).
• Replaced existing internal and external lamps with energy efficient equivalents.

• Nuglas uses approximately half as much gas and electricity to heat it’s buildings compared to an average industrial building of the same floor space. This is thought to save Nuglas approximately £10,000 per annum on energy costs.
• Estimated energy saving of approximately £240 and a reduction in CO₂ emissions of 2.5 tonnes.

Waste Minimisation & Recycling

• Wooden window frames that are removed by the installation teams are burnt in a wood burner.
• An environmental review was provided by the East Sussex betre* programme. This highlighted savings in waste management, and suggested separating materials for recycling.
• Nuglas decided to use computer software optimises PVC frame cutting. The remaining small off cuts are then sent for recycling.
• Scrap metal is recycled.
• A cardboard baler has been purchased using an East Sussex betre Green Action Award, allowing cost effective cardboard recycling.

• As well as providing heat and hot water for the building, burning the waste wood diverts it from landfill. Although burning waste wood doesn’t account for all of Nuglas’ waste wood, tonnes of wood are burnt each week. Nuglas are charged approximately £55 per tonne of waste disposed to landfill, so the accumulated savings of burning waste are significant. However, due to the varied consumption of wood in the burner, Nuglas can’t currently calculate how much they are saving.
• By optimising the cutting of PVC lengths, the raw material and waste disposal costs are reduced. Recycling the remaining waste extends the lifetime of the material and diverts it from landfill.
• Scrap metal is diverted from landfill, and generates approximately £1,780 per annum.
• The betre report calculated that improving waste management could save £14,122 p.a. and divert the majority of Nuglas’ 630p.a. tonnes of waste from landfill. Savings of £3,880 have already been achieved.
• 24 tonnes of waste cardboard are baled for recycling each year. Baled card is recycled for free, which represents a £2,100 reduction in disposal to landfill each year. The baler purchase cost £2,265 giving a payback period of around 16 months.

Water Efficiency

• A PIR flush control has been installed on one (of three) urinal, and the two remaining urinals are due to be fitted with the same flush control shortly.
• Push taps have been installed in the bathrooms replacing the old style, one of which was leaking.

• Water consumption dropped by approximately 108m3/year for the period after installing the PIR. This represents an annual saving of approximately £215 per annum. Installing PIRs on the two remaining urinal cisterns will also save a further 216m3/year and £430 p.a. This represents a 60% saving on water costs. Water scarcity is an increasingly important issue in the South East. Abstraction in this area is at, and in some cases beyond, the maximum sustainable level. Minimising water consumption is the only real solution to the water shortage, and legislation led pressure is likely to increase in the near future.
• The push taps are saving £105 p.a. on water costs and the dripping tap being fixed will save £719 p.a. The taps will pay for themselves in just 6 months.

Environmental learning

• Nuglas attended Simple Utility Management Seminars (SUMS) as part of the betre programme.
• All staff are actively involved in Nuglas’ environmental commitment.
• A free betre independent Initial Environmental Review helped identified priorities for action.
• Nuglas received betre newsletters throughout the course of the betre programme.
• Warren Smith (Factory Manager) presented Nuglas’ resource efficiency actions/ benefits to a group of local businesses at a betre programme workshop.

• Nuglas was made aware of the financial incentives of taking action, as well as free sources of advice and financial assistance to help achieve them. Environmental improvements and cost savings have been achieved as a result.

Summary of Cost Savings