19 Jun 2006
BAE Systems staff at the Samlesbury site have used the appliance of science to implement an initiative that is helping save up to 2,000 a week in energy costs.
In the state-of-the-art F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (F-35 JSF) assembly facility at BAE Systems at Samlesbury, the temperature is controlled to replicate the conditions in Fort Worth, Texas, where other parts of the F-35 JSF aircraft are being built.
Air conditioning units and chillers maintain a temperature of 20C +or- two degrees. However, after a series of tests were carried out, it became clear that the number of units being used can be reduced depending on the time of year.
Jon Farmer, a member of the BAE Systems Facilities Management team, said: For a minimum investment, we discovered that we could maintain the temperature in summer using three air handlers and two chillers and in winter we could work with just two air handling units and switch the chillers off.
We believe that changing the building management system in the F-35 JSF facility is saving the company around 2,000 a week in the winter. When the chillers are on that figure may fall to around 1,000 during the height of the summer but its still a significant saving.
Environmental advisor Steve Seed added: At BAE Systems we are aiming to reduce our energy consumption across our Samlesbury and Warton sites by at least a five per cent.
This recent activity in the F-35 JSF building is a clear example of what can be achieved through the application of engineering.
He added that Cultural change is encouraging everyone to look for ways to reduce consumption - via major initiatives such as this one, or simply by ensuring people turn their pc monitors and office lights off when they go home.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is the premier transatlantic defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With more than 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems sales exceeded GB 15.4 billion (US$28 billion) in 2005.
For further information please contact:
Paul Earnshaw, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1772 855572
Fax +44 (0) 1772 85624
paul.h.earnshaw@baesystems.com
Lisa Hillary-Tee, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384934
Mob: +44 (0) 7801 718994
Lisa.hillary-tee@baesystems.com
