Pfizer employs over 3,000 people at its site in Sandwich, Kent. Steam carries heat energy around the site in a network of high pressure pipes.

Condensed water in the system reduces its efficiency and can also cause serious damage to heat exchangers or other compoinents. To prevent this, "steam traps" remove any condensed water from the pipes.

Pfizer carried out an ultrasound survey of their steam traps. This measures the sound produced in the traps and valves as steam passes through them. Faulty traps were identified and replaced or serviced.

The survey resulted in Pfizer saving 570 tonnes of steam a year, which is the equivalent of 1.6GigaJoules of energy and 55 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Pfizer reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 55 tonnes per year. That is equivalent to the emissions caused by approximately 18 people in the UK.