Climate neutrality, greenhouse gases, CO鈧� certificates, renewable energy, climate change, energy efficiency鈥攖hese terms are now part of everyday business language. A company鈥檚 environmental footprint increasingly influences its reputation, operations, and sometimes even the bottom line. But what does climate responsibility actually look like in practice? And how can companies take meaningful action?
Understanding Climate Neutrality and Emissions
The Paris Agreement set a global target to limit warming to 2掳C (35.6掳F) below 鈥減re-industrial levels.鈥� Achieving this requires substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. For companies, climate neutrality involves more than just offsetting emissions. It begins with actively reducing CO鈧� output and improving operational efficiency.
Greenhouse gases include more than just carbon dioxide (CO鈧�). Methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and sulfur hexafluoride also contribute to climate change. To compare their impact, these gases are often converted into CO鈧� equivalents (CO鈧俥).
Emissions are categorized into three areas:
- Direct emissions from onsite fuel combustion and operation of vehicles and equipment with combustion engines听
- Indirect emissions generated from electric utilities听
- Other indirect emissions from business travel, upstream supplier activities, goods transport and downstream use of products
Most businesses鈥� operations involve all three categories.
The Energy Sector鈥檚 Role鈥攁nd Opportunity
Globally, the majority of greenhouse gas emissions come from energy production and use. For businesses, especially those in manufacturing or processing, direct and purchased energy uses are major contributors to their carbon footprint. This means there鈥檚 also a significant opportunity to make a positive impact by improving energy efficiency.
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Compressed air is known to be energy-intensive. It's estimated that compressed air generation accounts for about 10% of industrial electricity use, and in many plants the percent of energy consumed by compressors is much higher.Even if you are concerned with the impact of emissions on climate, improving the efficiency of compressed air systems can lead to measurable cost savings.
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Common efficiency measures include:
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- Proper compressor sizing and controls听听
- Detecting and fixing leaks
- Adjusting system pressure to match demand
- Recovering heat from compressors
Heat recovery is particularly impactful, since nearly all the energy used to compress air is converted into heat. Up to 96% of this heat can be captured and reused, reducing the need for additional heating and lowering energy demand.
The Business Case for Climate Responsibility
Improving energy efficiency supports climate goals and can also reduce operational costs. In compressed air systems, energy typically accounts for up to 70% of total lifecycle costs. Studies show that optimizing system design and operation can significantly reduce CO鈧� emissions associated with electrical consumption of air compressors.
Whether planning a new system or upgrading an existing one, companies benefit from data-driven analysis of their compressed air needs. By designing systems that match actual demand and reduce waste, businesses can improve both performance and sustainability.
Taking the Next Step
Leading in climate responsibility doesn鈥檛 require sweeping changes overnight. Small, measurable improvements鈥攅specially in energy use鈥攃an add up over time. Like it or not, regulations are impacting operations that consume energy.听 Fortunately, there are strong inducements to drive efficiency improvements. In addition to the direct reduction of power bills from the steps noted above, government agencies and utilities offer incentives for companies that invest in energy-saving technologies, including upgrades to compressed air systems and heat recovery equipment.
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By aligning operational efficiency with environmental goals, companies can reduce emissions, lower costs, and strengthen their position as responsible corporate citizens.
Additional Resources:
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Overview of sources, trends, and efforts to reduce GHG emissions in the U.S.
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听Details about the global agreement and its targets for reducing global warming.
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听Guidance for companies setting emission reduction goals in line with climate science.
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Offers tools and support to help manufacturers improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
- Non-profit industry resource offering training and guidance for optimizing compressed air use.
- A comprehensive list of incentives and policies that support renewable energy and energy efficiency in the U.S.