Mustang Survival saves with simple shut-down procedure

Mustang Survival saves with simple shut-down procedure

"Recognizing problems, finding solutions and continually optimizing for improved performance is part of our DNA at Mustang Survival. It makes perfect sense to apply the same approach to managing our energy usage too," says Oscar Tsai, plant manager for the company. This approach has led the organization to identify some no and low cost energy conservation measures allowing it to save 58,000 kWh.

Mustang Survival Corporation's headquarters and manufacturing facility are based in Burnaby, BC. The company designs, develops, and manufactures marine safety and climate protection products for users in the recreation, professional, and military markets.

Since enrolling in BC Hydro's operational energy analytics program in 2017, Mustang Survival has saved over 58,000 kilowatt-hours by implementing a few operational changes and lighting improvements at its Burnaby plant.

One of the operational changes that led to big savings was equipment shutdown. At Mustang, as in many industrial facilities, powering down equipment is a manual procedure, one that is often forgotten at the end of the workday but one that can add up to a significant annual cost.

To solve equipment shutdown issues, Tsai installed a heat press power signal panel near the plant's employee exit door. It flashes green if any one of the company's ten heat presses is left on accidentally after 6 p.m. He explains that "shutting off our heat presses each night, and on weekends, was identified by BC Hydro's energy consultants for operational energy analytics as one of the simplest ways for us to save, but I recognized early on that the action required manual intervention by an employee."

The installation of programmable timers has also helped in realizing the 58,000 kWh savings. The timers automatically turn off the plant's lights and HVAC system at 6 p.m. each day, eliminating the need for employees to manipulate any switches manually.

Additional savings were achieved with a plant-wide switch from T8 fluorescent lamps to LEDs, which has also brightened up the plant. Moreover, decreased maintenance time on older lighting has meant that facility and maintenance staff can focus on other cost saving measures, such as fixing air, oil and steam leaks.