SMARTCair has helped clients across different industries achieve remarkable results in compressed air energy efficiency. Here are a few highlights of what our projects have accomplished:
SMARTCair was used to model four potential savings scenarios producing between 43 and 56% annual energy, cost and GHG Emissions reductions with simple paybacks between 1.0 and 1.7 years.
At a heat treatment facility, SMARTCair identified a 35% reduction in annual energy, cost and GHG emissions reducing specific power by 12%, generation pressure by 8% and average flow by 15%.
SMARTCair completed the pre and post project analysis on a compressed air system consuming over 2.0 GWh/yr at a rolled steel finishing plant. The analysis shows a reduction of 33% ($95k/yr) in energy cost and GHG emissions.
SMARTCair was used to model a compressed air improvement at a coated fabrics manufacturer. The analysis identified 27% reductions in Energy usage and GHG Emissions producing $88k/yr in energy cost savings and a payback of 2.6 years.
SMARTCair was utilized to model a 1.1 GWh/yr compressed air system at a North American automotive supplier. The modelling identified a potential reduction of up to 63% through reducing significant system leakage and the installation of a VFD compressor.
SMARTCair was utilized to model a 3.3 GWh/yr compressed air system at a large injection molding facility. The modelling identified 24% in energy savings - approximately $110k/yr - primarily through installation of a higher capacity more efficient base load machine.
These case studies demonstrate how optimizing compressed air systems can lead to huge energy savings and equally significant environmental benefits. Many facilities see improvements on the order of double-digit percentage reductions in both energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, which boosts their bottom line and sustainability at the same time.
We believe in measuring results. For every project, we establish a baseline with the initial audit data. After improvements, we often perform a follow-up measurement or analysis—this could involve temporary metering of the compressors again or reviewing utility bills to compare before-and-after performance. In one example, a steel plant’s post-project data confirmed a 33% drop in energy consumption – exactly what our model predicted. This verification gives hard proof that the optimizations delivered the expected outcomes.
Energy reductions of 20–50% are very common. In some cases where systems are already efficient, savings might be only around 10–15%. In others, especially inefficient setups, over 50% can be saved. On average, many clients see roughly a one-third reduction in compressed air energy use. Every facility is unique, but there is almost always substantial room for improvement.
The GHG emissions reduction generally goes hand-in-hand with the energy savings. If you use less electricity, you produce fewer emissions. In other words, a 30% energy savings usually means about 30% lower CO2 emissions from your compressed air system. For example, the 41% energy reduction at the brick manufacturing plant also meant a 41% reduction in yearly greenhouse gas emissions. Compressed air optimization is a powerful way to support sustainability and climate goals while saving money.
Not always. In many cases, we can dramatically improve efficiency by optimizing the existing equipment and system setup. Actions like fixing leaks, adjusting controls, adding storage receivers, or improving maintenance can go a long way without needing to purchase a new air compressor. We only suggest new equipment if the data shows it’s truly cost-effective. For instance, a new VFD compressor was essential in one automotive plant to achieve a 63% energy reduction. But if your current hardware can be tuned to perform efficiently, we focus on that first.
Projects usually pay for themselves very quickly. Many low-cost fixes, like adjusting controls or repairing leaks, have near-immediate payback. More involved improvements typically see payback times on the order of 1 to 3 years. Indeed, many projects fall in the 1–2 year payback range. For example, one plant had options with ~1.5 year paybacks for nearly 50% energy savings. Even larger investments like a new compressor or a big storage tank often pay off in under 3 years due to the significant energy cost reduction.
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