Environmentally conscious Hankook tips
Hankook is committed to energy sustainability, so it’s not enough for us that we constantly look for ways to improve and operate an environmental management system, it is also important to motivate our employees to go green and improve together. If you read this article, we can get closer to our common green goals!
The Earth’s climate is an ever-changing, complex system, the balance of which has clearly been affected by human activity. Research shows that the main driver of climate change is the release of greenhouse gasses. In reaction to this, 195 countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, and the European Union (EU) has set its own climate agenda, which aims to reduce emissions to 55% of 1990 levels by 2030 and achieve full climate neutrality by 2050.
The energy sector produces 77% of the greenhouse gas emissions of EU Member States, so achieving these targets will not be possible without proper awareness and energy efficiency. In addition to environmental concerns, rising energy prices are driving companies and individuals to use energy more efficiently and reduce consumption.
Hankook is committed to greenhouse gas emission reduction and energy effectiveness. A good example of this is the replacement of light sources in our plant with energy-efficient LED lighting. We have also scheduled the modernisation of skylights and the installation of control systems in our development plan. Future investments also include energy efficiency upgrades to various service units, process equipment, compressors and pumps, and we plan to install solar power on the existing roof structure and a battery farm.
We also aim to increase the share of energy from renewable sources. In this spirit, we are proud to have increased our use of green energy to 20% in 2022 from the previous 8%. In the future, we want to further increase this percentage, and in the long term, we aim to achieve 100% climate neutrality in our factory.
Unfortunately, the efforts and interventions of committed producers like us are not enough to achieve the EU targets, as residential consumption accounts for 30-35% of domestic energy use. Awareness is also essential at an individual level. Experience shows that with attention, household energy use can be reduced by 5-10%, resulting in significant cost savings. All it takes is a few simple things to keep in mind. Let’s see what they are!
- Use natural lighting wherever possible and turn off lights in rooms that are not in use. Switch off (unplug) household appliances and equipment that are not in use, not just switch them to standby mode, as they still draw electricity.
- Wait until the dishwasher and washing machine are loaded to the maximum level before starting the dishwasher and washing machine. If you can use the “eco” programme, use it as often as possible – it uses less water and electricity because it only heats the water intermittently, not continuously.
- Move the fridge away from the oven and, if possible, leave space around it, and defrost the freezer every six months or yearly. This way, less energy is needed to maintain the appliance’s temperature.
- Ventilate with the windows fully open (only at dawn in summer). Turn off the air conditioning or heating during this time.
- Choose the appropriate room temperature! Setting the room temperature 1°C lower in winter and 1°C higher in summer can reduce heating costs by up to 6 percent. At night or when you’re not at home, set the room temperature lower or set the air conditioner on a timer. However, you should not turn the heating down to less than 2-3°C below your usual temperature, as cooling down requires much more energy: keeping it at a constant level is more cost-effective.
- Regularly check the boiler and disinfect the water boilers, because every millimeter of deposits increases energy consumption by 5%.
In addition to conscious consumption, we can further reduce our energy use by making small and large investments.
It is a good idea to replace old light bulbs and fluorescent tubes with LEDs – even gradually, in small steps, room by room. They consume a fraction of the energy of conventional light bulbs and have a much longer lifetime.
Replacing our old household machines can lead to significant energy savings. It’s worth watching out for government appliance replacement programmes and taking advantage of the subsidy at the right time, as well as considering the energy label and choosing the greenest (A, B or C) products possible. Our investment can pay for itself quickly, even within a year.
In an average household, heating consumes the most energy. It accounts for around 70-75% of total consumption, so it is the biggest saving. However, upgrading the heating system or installing insulation or replacing windows and doors is a costly investment. It is advisable to consult a specialist before doing so, or even to have a thermal survey carried out. It is good to know that insulation is not only practical in winter, but also in summer: with the right shading system and conscious ventilation, even air conditioning can be unnecessary.
Not only in our homes and workplaces, but also when we travel, we can do something for the planet. Importantly, we produce a quarter of the greenhouse gasses we emit. Driving in the city can be replaced by walking, cycling or using our company bus services, which can save money and reduce pollution. In Dunaújváros, you can save around 12,000 forints a month by choosing a Hankook bus service.
The environment belongs to everyone, let’s make it better together!
Written by: András Bartis Senior Environmental Engineer, EHS Team, Environment Unit