Scheme to cut energy

DANDENONGbased car parts manufacturer Nissan Casting Australia is investigating new technologies to slash its energy use and greenhouse emissions.
The two systems would also provide a safer work environment.
Nissan Casting is a leading aluminium parts manufacturer, and uses natural gas to fire its furnaces.
The new technologies it is looking at could save enough gas to power 568 homes each year.
Lyndhurst MP Tim Holding said the State Government would provide $80,000 for Nissan Casting to investigate further.
“The project is a win for the environment, reducing greenhouse pollution by 1400 tonnes — the equivalent of removing at least 300 cars from Dandenong’s roads every year.
“The new technologies have the potential to save Nissan Casting about $250,000 each year through lower natural gas use, increased productivity and lower maintenance costs.”
Mr Holding said melting aluminium was an energy and labour intensive process.
“The technology is designed to recover and reuse heat.
“It will also enable solid aluminium to be automatically lowered into a furnace without the need for a worker to add the solid aluminium into the molten metal.
“Combined, these technologies have the potential to use less than half the energy needed during the traditional process.
“In an industry as large as car parts manufacturing, it’s great to see that such an important issue as energy efficiency has been a major focus in its investigation of new technology.
“As well as being a positive step for the manufacturer and the environment, workers will benefit from the additional safety measures.”
The funding was available through the Sustainability Victoria’s Business Energy Innovation Initiative.