A (simplified) Environmental Statement is drawn up and published in respect of the Schrobenhausen location each year. The environmental management systems of the major production locations within the BAUER Group are certified to ISO 14001 or EMAS. In view of our decentralized corporate structure, it is not possible to present a single consolidated picture. The performance indicators represent the head office complex and plants in Schrobenhausen, Aresing and Edelshausen (together referred to as "the Schrobenhausen location").

In recent years, while remodelling the old head office building, extending the Aresing plant and constructing the new plant in Edelshausen and the new head office, we implemented wide-ranging ecological measures to improve emissions and reduce energy use. This is not always made clear by the graphics, as the addition of the new plant at Edelshausen in 2009 needs to be taken into account. The need for environmental measures is also reviewed at branch offices and subsidiaries as well as on international projects, and their implementation is supported from Group headquarters.

TREND IN ENERGY CONSUMPTION

On completion of the new headquarters and after the redevelopment of the existing office building in Schrobenhausen, overall electricity consumption has increased due to the additional heating requirements. At the start of work on the old head office administration building back in 2008, consumption of natural gas ceased. The geothermal plant, heat pumps and heat insulation measures have almost entirely replaced the heating oil previously needed to serve the building. It is now required only in winter, to cover periods of peak demand. Since 2008 the Edelshausen complex has saved energy by the installation of geothermal plants and the photovoltaic plant. The specific heat consumption of both buildings has been cut by more than half.

Energy consumption at the Aresing facility has also been reduced. It, too, has seen the installation of a geothermal energy plant to supply the offices and communal areas. The paintshops recover a portion of their waste process heat by means of efficient heat wheels. The increase in overall energy consumption relates mainly to the new Edelshausen facility. Sections of its extensive roof areas have been covered with solar modules producing photovoltaic energy. The percentage of total power demand covered by them was almost doubled in 2010, with over 30 MWh being fed back into the grid.

Fuel supplies are split between in-house and external vehicle refuelling. The on-site filling stations in Schrobenhausen and Aresing provide a refuelling facility for the Bauer vehicle fleet as well as a fuel store for supply to machinery. The Bauer vehicle fleet mainly includes vehicles not directly attributable to the specific site.

TREND IN EMISSIONS

NOx, SO2 and CO2 emissions are calculated based on consumption of heating oil, natural gas and fuel. The installation of geothermal energy plants at the head office building in Schrobenhausen and at the Aresing site – in conjunction with the removal of heating oil systems – is having a positive effect in terms of avoiding the production of sulphur oxides. The rise in CO2 emissions and nitrogen oxides is a result of the higher heating demand inside the plants.

Some of the fossil fuel used has been replaced by eco-friendly, low-emission energy sources. Installing the geothermal energy plants as well as the solar plant in Edelshausen, and also reorganizing the energy management of the administrative buildings, has resulted in cuts in CO2 emissions at the Schrobenhausen location. Some of the solar power generated is fed into the electricity supplier's grid.

WATER CONSUMPTION

Water consumption at the Schrobenhausen location has risen steadily due to the addition of new office buildings and factory halls. The rise in consumption is attributable to the high water consumption during construction work on the head office complex in 2007 and the commissioning of the Edelshausen plant in 2009. In 2010 water consumption was cut slightly. In the graphic the consumption of fresh water is equal to the production of waste water.

SOLVENT EMISSIONS

Acknowledging the need to construct new paintshop facilities at the plants in line with increased production, BAUER Maschinen GmbH began planning the switch to low-solvent water-based paints from an early stage. The step was implemented in 2009. All three paintshops at the Schrobenhausen location has seen a reduction in VOC emissions. The paints are also used in the final production step – finishing – in preparation for shipping to the customer. SCHACHTBAU NORDHAUSEN GmbH likewise invested in a new combined paintshop and logistics centre. It also employs water-diluted paints as part of a modern approach to environmental protection.