A major drive that saved energy has just earned a Co Down company the prestigious Energy Management Standard BS EN 16001.

The B/E Aerospace plant in Kilkeel has been putting its 'energies into energy saving' with a focus on the demands of future legislation that will affect its global market.

Importantly too, for a company which prides itself on its scenic location nestling on the Co Down coastline at the foot of the Mournes, it makes a significant and measurable contribution to improving the environment.

Francis Kelly, Director Furnishings/Finishings & Facilities, Seating Products at the plant, said: "Around 40%of the world's airline seats are made right here in Kilkeel and we are very proud to be the world's number one manufacturer.

"We want to be sure that all our processes measure up to that lead position and, in particular, we have been focusing on ways to reduce and better manage our energy consumption.

"It's good for the environment and good for our business too: the ultimate win-win," he explained.

For the company energy has always been important and work began to manage it in 2007, with a full energy survey analysing patterns of use and pinpointing areas for improvement. Subsequently B/E Aerospace invested more than half a million pounds on projects ranging from up-grading that plant's air compressors and oil-fired heating system to installing a new boiler. In November 2010 B/E Aerospace decided formally to get.

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Mr Kelly continued: "Before 2010 our oil fired burners were responsible for around 15% of our total energy consumption, adding almost 110,000 tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere every year.

"We invested £80,000 to replace the old system with a modulated system with three burners in stead of six and we instantly achieved carbon savings of 138 tonnes per year.

"Our investment in a better environment is paying off in other ways too for, thanks to that new system, we are set to achieve cost savings in the region of £50,000 a year," he said.

While BS EN 16001 may be an unfamiliar term to the man in the street, it has become something of a mantra for employees at B/E Aerospace.

But, achieving the award required a team effort across all the disciplines at the plant and, said Francis Kelly, it's now a great source of pride for all employees.

"In business terms this is a fantastic award and we are delighted and very proud to have achieved such high level recognition.

"We all know from experience at home how important it is to manage energy costs and to reduce waste.

"Our employees were quick to see the potential benefits of applying that common sense approach to a business scenario and, through a series of brainstorming sessions, they came up with practical ideas and suggestions.

"Working together we've made a great impact and have an award which is worth celebrating - and, for us, this is still very much a work in progress," he continued.

"In 2010 we set out to reduce our energy consumption by 3%. From 2009 -2010 we actually achieved a reduction of 18%.

"This year we set ourselves a target of a 3% reduction in electricity use and a 6% reduction in oil consumption."

(BMcC/GK)