Energy Efficiency
With a nearly $2 million capital investment, efficiency gains were realized primarily at our headquarters in Carlsbad, California.
- The existing central plant was retrofitted with an upgraded control system utilizing patented algorithms that reduced energy consumption by 50 percent. Smart software applications were utilized to optimize temperature fluctuations during business hours without impacting the occupant comfort level, and to reduce the temperature changes during off hours.
- Biotechnology requires walk-in coolers and freezers for production and storage of temperature-sensitive products. Over 130 fan motors were replaced with higher-efficiency units and upgraded controls. These motors no longer work 24/7, but instead cycle on only when air circulation is required to maintain cold temperatures. This technology not only allows for 55 percent energy savings, but also provides a tighter temperature control for our products.
- Compressed air is used extensively throughout manufacturing and research laboratories. Leaky nozzles were replaced and compressed air storage tanks were installed. This allowed the demand for compressed air to be met by only one 30HP compressor, instead of two 60HP units—reducing the energy consumption of the system by more than 50 percent.
View our energy efficiency performance.
Spotlight on lighting:
2009 marked our dawn of the LED as we replaced our old Edison light bulbs. We replaced inefficient lighting with modern LED and fluorescent lighting, which lasts eight times longer and consumes one-fifth of the energy. We also use daylight harvesting to automatically reduce lighting when not needed on bright, sunny days. Given the demonstrated return on investment of these installations, further capital expenditures have been approved to roll out similar conservation projects across Life Technologies facilities in the coming years, with a goal of reducing global energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 25 percent, indexed to net sales, by 2012.
2009 marked our dawn of the LED as we replaced our old Edison light bulbs. We replaced inefficient lighting with modern LED and fluorescent lighting, which lasts eight times longer and consumes one-fifth of the energy. We also use daylight harvesting to automatically reduce lighting when not needed on bright, sunny days. Given the demonstrated return on investment of these installations, further capital expenditures have been approved to roll out similar conservation projects across Life Technologies facilities in the coming years, with a goal of reducing global energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 25 percent, indexed to net sales, by 2012.
