AJE gets smart about carbon savings
AJ Engineering has introduced technology to help manage its carbon footprint and improve efficiency with the introduction of internet of things (IoT) technology.
Securing funding and technical support from CENSIS, Scotland’s innovation centre for sensing, imaging, and IoT technologies, AJE is on track to make savings on annual electricity usage as a result of the new systems.
A series of connected sensors are now in operation across AJ Engineering’s Greshop site, enabling the management team to spot exactly where energy is being used and take steps to reduce consumption in particular processes or buildings.
The technology has already highlighted significant savings that can be made by reducing the heating and lighting at parts of the facility that had not been identified as large consumers of power.
Having access to real-time data about the carbon footprint will also help AJE communicate its green credentials to current customers and win new contracts.
Graham Alexander said: “Introducing this new system has opened our eyes to how different parts of the business consume energy. The equipment has allowed us to have a much better appreciation of what aspects of our production and business are the largest energy consumers.
“As well as cutting our own carbon footprint, the technology will have benefits for customers across the sectors we operate in. They are increasingly asking us to supply information about our carbon footprint and the energy consumed by specific processes for their own emissions reporting. With access to accurate real-time data, we will be well-equipped to do so.”
The initiative formed part of the IoT Evolve programme, which was funded by the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to support SMEs in the region with the development and application of IoT technologies.
Ally Longmuir, business development manager at CENSIS, said: “This was AJ Engineering’s first foray into the world of IoT and it is great to see the business realising the benefits of the technology almost immediately. Sustainability and carbon accounting are only going to become more critical as Scotland approaches its 2045 net zero target, and this is a great example of how digital adoption can support the wider goals and be applied to almost any industry.”
