Case Study

Australian Government

Department of Industry Tourism and Resources

Industry Case Study

Midland Brick

Midland Brick’s parent company, Boral, signed up as a trial company for the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program in 2005. As a major energy user, Midland Brick in Perth focuses on energy use as a way to reduce costs. The Energy Efficiency Opportunities program provided fresh impetus and a new approach which allowed the company to identify opportunities in a more systematic and inclusive way, and to revisit opportunities that had been identified previously. The projects that emerged from the initial assessment will have significant benefits for the company in reducing energy costs and improving productivity. Midland Brick’s objectives for the assessment were to identify opportunities to reduce costs through improved energy efficiency, and to demonstrate leadership by being one of the first companies to conduct an assessment for the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program. The majority of the assessment, as described in this case study, was completed in eight months.

business benefits achieved so far

over 50 energy efficiency opportunities have been identified so far. the major focus has been on Kilns 7 and 8, which account for 40 per cent of overall site energy use. Preliminary analysis of 12 opportunities has shown that they will generate energy savings of approximately 0.27 PJ per year. this is approximately equivalent to 19,000 tonnes of co2 equivalent per year, or the energy use of 5,000 households per year. the opportunities for Kilns 7 and 8 being investigated in detail include upgrading and automating control of the burners, adding doors to the end of the kilns, and adding insulation. the investigation is still underway, but the projects are expected to reduce the energy costs for Kilns 7 and 8 by 10-20 per cent. they will also generate other business benefits, including: • • improved productivity and product quality by reducing temperature variations...