AH Marks have dramatically reduced their energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions over recent years.

A survey of the plant used an infra-red camera to see where heat energy was being lost from pipes carrying steam. Better insulation helped to save over 5,000 tonnes of steam per year.

The waste of electricity is kept to a minimum by computer monitoring of energy use. Thermostatic controls, high efficiency lights, heat detectors and timers help to ensure that electricity is used with the minimum of waste.

A combined heat and power (CHP) plant provides electricity and heat for the plant. This has achieved 80% efficiency which is a big improvement over taking energy from the National Grid.

The overall effect has been to reduce the energy consumed per tonne of product by 48% over the last 10 years.