Unilever is a household name.

It is one of the world's largest consumer goods businesses providing everyday essentials, everything from shampoo and toothpaste to washing powder, tea, ice cream, oils and spreads. For an organisation of this size to monitor energy usage, identify areas of improvement and apply the necessary measures to implement change is an enormous task.

For a number of years the experts at M&C Energy Group have been assisting Unilever businesses to recognise areas of saving, and to implement the necessary recommendations.

M&C Energy Group are utilities specialists with a solid global network covering Europe, the Far East and the USA. In addition to our core business areas of electricity, gas, water, telecoms and fuel the areas of energy bulk purchasing and energy services are part of our activity.
M&C Energy Group's services ensure that businesses worldwide are getting the best possible value for money when it comes to their energy costs. Initially M&C Energy Group worked in connection with Unilever's European sites to identify areas of saving in the purchasing of electricity and gas supplies. Later Unilever added water and oil to the areas they wished M&C Energy Group to investigate.

• In the UK, M&C Energy Group's Energy Services division undertook a detailed energy survey for four of Unilever's sites and also an auditing exercise. This identified a considerable refund opportunity on the Climate Change Levy (CCL)
• An Energy Survey was carried out at one of the Unilever Bestfoods sites, which identified energy and water savings amounting to a reduction of over 16% of these costs. These recommendations, including major improvements to steam generation, utilisation and reduction of compressed air usage and are now being implemented.
• M&C Energy Group Gas division has saved approximately 8% on gas and electricity procurement costs.
• In Thailand, M&C Energy Group work on behalf of Unilever Thai holdings, manufacturers of soap products and ice cream. Savings were identified and M&C Energy Group's engineers implemented an ongoing monitoring and targeting exercise. An electrical upgrade has been recommended with the capital funding being provided by way of an Energy Performance Contract. In a groundbreaking move M&C Energy Group are conducting negotiations with regard to gas contracts, a first for Thailand given the state of the gas market.
• M&C Energy Group's Energy Services division continue to provide Unilever with continuous technical advice on energy saving equipment, energy conservation measures and Climate Change Levy issues.