Automation Saves Energy
Nokia Networks' Rusko factory in Oulu, Finland, was the first of Nokia's units to be awarded the ISO 14001 certificate. The certificate requires continuous improvement in environmental issues. An energy analysis carried out in 1997 gave some guidance for that.
Increasing the efficiency of air-conditioning, pre-heating of employees' car engines in wintertime and the use of lighting have resulted in the biggest savings in energy consumption. At the moment, these services are controlled by an automation system, which for instance switches lights on and off at certain times off day. This is also true for the production facilities.
"The power outlets for preheating of employees' car engines are not on at all if the outside temperature is above 0ºC," explains team leader Kari Manninen. "When the temperature is below -25ºC power is on all the time and between these two temperature it is on periodically and not in every car pool at the same time."
In addition, the outdoor lights and heating, which keep gutters free of ice, are under control. Other savings have been realized by decreasing the use of water in washrooms and humidification. " We do not use much water for production but merely in washrooms and catering," added Kari.
All the suggested actions have not been taken in Rusko and Limingantulli yet. One of the ideas under consideration involves using snow for cooling, which is the biggest energy consumer in production.