Carpet company saves pile on fuel

The company has halved its fuel bills

A Northern Ireland firm says energy-saving measures have helped it cut fuel bills by £750,000 in the past year.

Portadown-based Ulster Carpets says it has reversed current trends by paying less for fuel while increasing profits.

The company, which employs more than 400 people, is now able to save 49% in the energy needed to produce one square metre of carpet.

The cost-cutting measures included recovering heat from steam used in the dying process and from dye house waste.

"Energy efficiency is not just good for the environment, it is also good for the bottom line," said Ulster Carpets managing director Nick Coburn.

"At a time when fuel costs have soared, our unit cost has gone down substantially over the past 5 years, helping us to make more profit."