Big 8 Beverages, our carbonated soft drink and water processing plant in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, participated in an Eco Efficiency Study conducted by Dalhousie University and Nova Dynamics Limited, an engineering consulting company. The study reviewed the facility’s inputs and outputs in order to identify opportunities to reduce material, energy and water consumption. We are currently in the process of implementing project recommendations, which we expect will have a meaningful impact on the facility’s energy consumption.

A project outcome identified the need to cool water for the soft drink line and to warm the spring water line. It was recommended that a water exchange system be installed to exchange the water from the two lines, thereby reducing the energy required to chill the water in the soft drink line and warm the water in the spring water line.

Another recommendation being implemented involves the installation of a solar concentrator, which uses two solar dishes to capture solar generated heat to supplement the facility’s process hot water.