Energy-efficient renovation – Krones Inc. is upgrading

How can we actively help to shape Krones’s ESG goals? (Editor's note: ESG stands for Environment, Social, Governance) That is precisely the question the Facility Management team at Krones Inc. asked themselves. With eco-conscious workshops, measures for more efficient natural gas consumption and a new air-conditioning roof coating, Krones Inc. is demonstrating how both customer requests and the environment can be reconciled. To this end, they have even made visual changes at the site, as can be seen from above: A total of four hall roofs were newly covered – which brings several energy benefits with it. 

Staying cool – thanks to physics

“Here in Wisconsin, we have a lot of hot days in the summer, and it takes huge amounts of energy to keep our buildings cool. That’s why we looked for ways of lowering this consumption – and the roof offered the perfect starting point,” explains Ericka Najera, project coordinator for the Facility team.  

This covers a total surface area of 52,600 square feet, equivalent to about 4,890 square metres. The new roof coating is a white PVC membrane that reflects more sunlight than the previous one. As the roof absorbs less heat, the temperature in the rooms below remains at a more consistent level throughout the year. The principle is the same as for wearing summer clothing: Dark colours warm you up, while light colours cool you down. The result: The energy required for air-conditioning the building is reduced by about 20 to 40 percent with this method. The new roof coating also impresses with its longer service life, because it does not need to be replaced as often as the previous material, thus saving valuable resources.

Another step towards a sustainable future

With this project and the planned future replacement of the remaining roofs, Krones Inc. remains on track when it comes to achieving the Group-wide goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In order to drive progress across all remaining ESG areas, the Facility team has taken further action. Some of them require a look behind the scenes at the building services. In order to ensure a more sustainable use of natural gas, ultra-high-efficiency units were installed, which utilise natural gas with an efficiency rate of 82 percent. The long-term vision is electrification: “We are actively working on reducing natural gas consumption and looking for ways of utilising more sustainable energy sources for our site that meet both general ecological goals and the company’s internal targets,” explains Abigail Sauvageau, environment and sustainability analyst at the site. That is why tests are currently underway on two heat pumps that are intended to assist the switch to renewable energies. A huge step in this direction had already been taken in 2022 with the installation of a 300-kilowatt photovoltaic system. “That this system will pay off sooner or later shows how ecological and economic activities go hand in hand,” Ericka Najera emphasises.

Environmentally aware – even at the workplace

Sustainability and the protection of the environment are not just anchored in the buildings and technology of Krones Inc. but also form part of its work culture: Sustainability events such as campus clean-ups which are rubbish-collecting campaigns on the site, and other workshops. Employees are also able to bring their electrical scrap from home to their workplace for environmentally friendly disposal. 

Krones Inc. is not only dedicated to sustainability but also actively supports its workforce in raising ecological awareness beyond the workplace and into the wide world.