GRUNDFOS CEO WATER MANDATE 2015 GRUNDFOS CEO WATER MANDATE 2015 Reducing our water As a company that produces water and energy efficient solutions, Grundfos plays a vital part in helping others reduce their negative environmental impact. Therefore, it is only natural that we also work to reduce our own water and energy consumption. Cooling a factory using rain water The summer in Taiwan is very hot and temperatures can soar to nearly 40 degrees Celsius. This can cause some very hot conditions for employees working in factories, especially those without air conditioning. This was the situation at Grundfos’ production company in Taiwan. However, a cross-functional team consisting of people from different work areas in Grundfos has found a solution to the problem of high temperatures in the consumption factory. By collecting rainwater during the rainy season in a 300 cubic metre water tank, Grundfos is able to cool the building during the summer months. The collected rainwater is used to flood the factory roof, which lowers the temperature of the factory floor by 2 degrees Celsius. This solution is more efficient and sustainable than traditional air conditioning solutions, and employees in the factory are benefiting from a more comfortable working environment. Reusing wastewater Like rainwater, wastewater can be a valuable water source. Grundfos’ sister company in Denmark, Sintex, has demonstrated that reusing wastewater is an efficient way to reduce water consumption and minimise further waste. In the past, the wastewater from the Sintex factory was hauled away for external treatment. Now the wastewater is treated on-site through an evaporation and condensation plant. The water can then be reused during production. This process has reduced wastewater going to external treatment by 90 per cent and has saved 450 cubic metres of clean municipality water each year. However, evaporation is not free of cost, but with modern vacuum evaporators, the electricity consumption is limited. In this case, the extra electricity consumption of 17.5 MWh per year actually emits less CO2 than the transportation of wastewater for external treatment. These initiatives are just two examples of how Grundfos sites work to reduce water consumption. Each year, best practice is shared through out the company so similar measures can be implemented elsewhere. Local initiatives all over the world Grundfos’ commitment to water reduction is driven by a desire to cut total water consumption by 50 per cent of 2008 level by 2025. Local water initiatives are the key to reducing Grundfos’ overall water consumption across the 56 countries in which the company operates.
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