Environmental Policy

Our Commitment

Airmech is committed to minimising the environmental impact of our operations and helping our customers reduce theirs. Compressed air systems typically account for 20 to 30% of a site's electricity consumption, making energy efficiency a core part of what we do, not an afterthought.

We recognise our responsibility to operate sustainably and to support our customers in meeting their own environmental targets.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is central to our service offering. We actively help customers reduce the energy consumption of their compressed air systems through:

• Variable speed drive (VSD) compressors: We recommend and install VSD technology where it can deliver measurable energy savings, reducing electricity usage by up to 35% compared to fixed-speed alternatives.
• Air leak detection: Compressed air leaks can waste 20 to 30% of a system's output. Our leak detection service identifies and quantifies losses so they can be addressed.
• System optimisation: Through servicing and maintenance, we ensure compressors operate at peak efficiency, reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
• Right-sizing: We advise on compressor sizing to avoid oversized equipment running inefficiently. Our compressor configurator helps match equipment to actual demand.
• Heat recovery: Where practical, we advise on recovering waste heat from compressors for space heating or process use.

Waste Management

We manage waste responsibly across our operations:

• Compressor oil: Used compressor oil is collected and disposed of through licensed waste carriers in compliance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011.
• Filters and consumables: Spent filters and service consumables are disposed of in accordance with waste regulations. We use genuine parts to extend service intervals where possible, reducing waste volume.
• Condensate: Compressed air systems produce oil-contaminated condensate. We supply and maintain oil-water separators that treat condensate to a standard suitable for drain disposal, preventing contaminated water from entering the waste stream.
• Packaging: We minimise packaging waste and recycle where facilities are available.

Emissions and Travel

Our engineers cover the UK from a central base in the Midlands, providing national coverage with efficient route planning:

• We plan engineer routes to minimise unnecessary travel and reduce vehicle emissions
• Our national coverage from a single base means customers with multi-site operations deal with one supplier rather than multiple regional contractors, reducing the total number of journeys across their estate
• We use scheduled planned preventative maintenance (PPM) visits to consolidate work and reduce the number of reactive callouts

Sustainable Procurement

When recommending equipment to our customers, we consider the total lifetime environmental impact:

• We prioritise energy-efficient compressors and ancillary equipment
• We work with manufacturers (CompAir, Hydrovane, ABAC, Champion) who are committed to improving the efficiency and sustainability of their products
• We advise on equipment lifecycle to ensure machines are replaced at the right time, balancing reliability with efficiency

Compliance

We comply with all relevant environmental legislation, including:

• Environmental Protection Act 1990
• Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011
• The Environment Act 2021
• Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005
• F-Gas Regulation (where applicable to refrigerant dryers)

Continuous Improvement

We review our environmental performance regularly and look for opportunities to improve. This includes evaluating new technologies, updating our practices, and listening to feedback from our customers and team.

This policy is reviewed annually by the management team.

Contact

For questions about our environmental policy or how we can help reduce the environmental impact of your compressed air systems, contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 02476 345 658