In a world that is rapidly changing as a result of climate change, many industries are looking towards alternatives that can help to make them more sustainable. One of the most prominent ways that industries, including manufacturing, are addressing their sustainability concerns is through energy consumption. Today, manufacturing is making major strides towards becoming cleaner. 

These efforts not only stand to make the manufacturing industry more environmentally friendly, but can also have a number of very real benefits when it comes to the safety of both employees and the local communities surrounding large operations. Renewable energy has the potential to help companies reduce the number of hazardous emissions they produce and enhance the safety of some pieces of equipment. All of this can add up to important changes that make manufacturers top places for employees to work and customers to support. 

Reducing hazardous emissions

Manufacturing is a critical aspect of the world’s economy. This means that if the industry makes a significant jump into renewable energies as a source of power, the potential environmental and health implications would be profound. 

The most significant benefit of utilizing renewable energies such as solar or wind in the manufacturing industry is the reduction in hazardous emissions that are produced. For one, clean energy sources produce almost no harmful greenhouse gas emissions, which have been linked to numerous health problems including asthma and other respiratory conditions. Reductions in greenhouse gas production can make both employees and citizens in surrounding communities healthier and safer and ultimately could substantially lower healthcare bills.  

Certain companies may also be able to use renewable sources to power different techniques and operations that require fewer chemicals and other harmful materials that may be used during the manufacturing process. For example, in the early 1990s, government policies incentivized manufacturing companies to begin phasing out the use of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons. Today, nearly 99% of 100 different ozone damaging chemicals are no longer used in manufacturing, which is a huge boon to human and environmental health.  

Enhancing equipment safety

In many cases, energy equipment that utilizes renewable energy requires less maintenance and runs with fewer, often simpler parts overall. For example, windmills are so simple that they were around well before carbon combustion engines. Beyond that, renewable sources can be more reliable in that they are producing power locally and with consistent prices are not contingent upon geopolitical forces that are out of control of manufacturing companies. In many cases, after upfront installation costs, renewable sources are already cheaper than non-renewable ones. 

Some believe that converting to renewable energy sources could also produce a number of significant safety benefits for equipment and general operations. For instance, by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, there is less of a need to transport and store highly flammable fuels. 

Many of these benefits such as a reduction or change in maintenance needs, power sources, or storage methods and safety implications can be explained to employees in annual refresher training, which is an important aspect of employee success. Training employees and providing refreshers can result in even better performance, organizational success, and improved safety. 

Wider benefits of renewable energy sources

Aside from the potential safety benefits of a conversion to renewable energy sources in manufacturing, there are also multitudes of other benefits. For one, the conversion to sustainable sources can save companies a lot of funding. Many subsidies exist that can help with installation costs and, once in place, systems such as solar are consistently cheaper and more efficient than more traditional non-renewable energy systems. 

Cleaner energy systems in manufacturing can also help the country reach clean energy goals and reduce overall emissions at a rapid rate. Manufacturing and industrial production is responsible for nearly 40% of global emissions,  so any efforts to reduce those are important for limiting the impacts of climate change. 

Sustainably-focused businesses can also help attract and retain potential candidates. Nearly 67% of employees say they take sustainability initiatives into account when they are looking at potential jobs. Employees often say they are proud of their company’s sustainability efforts and that pride can translate into a safer, happier, more creative, and more productive work environment. 

Another major benefit is associated with public relations. Studies indicate that consumers are thinking a lot about sustainability and how companies are taking steps to address their environmental footprints. In fact, many consumers are willing to pay more for products that are produced using either more sustainable materials or methods. This provides a huge motivation for companies to make positive changes and advertise that they are doing so. 

Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power are leading to major changes in the ways that the manufacturing industry is doing things. Among many other benefits, switching to renewable energy sources has the potential to improve the health and safety of both employees and citizens in surrounding areas. These adjustments can lead to better air quality, few negative health outcomes, exposure to fewer dangerous chemicals, safer equipment, more stable energy costs, happier employees, and so on. It is worth the effort to make the transition to renewable.