Homart Pharmaceuticals

Homart Pharmaceuticals Established in Australia in 1992, Homart specialises in manufacturing and marketing high quality Australian health supplements. Some of the health supplements Homart offers ranges from fish oil capsules and vitamins, to unique products such as colostrum tablets, marine collagen capsules, eucalyptus propolis toothpaste, and emu oil products. Homart also does contract manufacturing for a diverse customer base, helping clients with research & development, licensing, exporting and distribution. Homart operates a successful business from two properties in Silverwater combining offices, warehouse and manufacturing facilities.

Sustainability Drivers
Jeffrey Yei, Operations Manager for Homart Pharmaceuticals saw the Energy Efficiency for Small Business program as a great initiative to learn more about his businesses energy consumption and explore any opportunities to enhance efficiencies. Keeping stock below 30 degrees Celsius presented an ongoing challenge in the warehouses, and before the program had been achieved during the summer months with air conditioning.

Assessing Energy Usage

Figure 1: Energy profile for Homart

The energy profile of Homarts two properties is combined above. The other equipment contribution can be solely attributed to the manufacturing facility of one of the two properties.

Action Plan Recommendations

The assessment uncovered a wide range of energy savings actions. Both facilities shared many of the same recommendations with the exception of the ceiling insulation and heat extraction unit for the packaging heat tunnel.

Description

Estimated Cost $1,170 $180 $2,300 $726 $600 $4,250 $10,020 $2,220 $1,600 $23,066

Potential Savings pa $278.08 $75.03 $460.05 $191.64 $97.89 $523.13 $1,046.25 $353.06 $221.25 $3,246

Implementing the Recommendations

Homart are in the process of implementing a broad range of recommendations, having already installed the roof ventilators and heat reflective paint. The program rebate will provide up to 50% of the investment (up to $10.000) for both properties.

Split lighting circuits & install multiple sw itches Install digital timer for extractor fans in kitchen/toilet Install infra-red sensors in low traf fic office areas & toilets Replace 50W w ith 35W IRC halogen dow nlight Install automatic timers on Hot Water Systems Install Roof Ventillators in w arehouses Apply Heat Reflective Paint Install Batt Insulation - Ceiling Comercial air/heat extractor unit on packaging heat tunnel

Results & Achievements

As a result of the implemented actions to date and those left on the list, it is estimated that Homart will save around $3240 and over 17 tonnes of CO2-e per year. The total investment after rebate will pay for itself in energy savings over approximately 4.2 years. The changes already implemented have significantly reduced air conditioning loads and enabled stock to be kept within the desired temperature range. Homart had planned to install more aid conditioning to meet the growing storage loads, but the heat reflective paint as an alternative provided a cost effective insulation solution, which despite costing more upfront, operationally over time will cost less than more air conditioning said Jeffrey Yei. The programs rebate was able to provide that extra incentive to pay more upfront for a better long-term solution.

Figure 2: New vent above office