What happens when you combine smart technology with a serious commitment to sustainability? You get results that matter. At the Nash Nuremberg Plant, we’re not just talking about reducing emissions. We’re doing it. Through our Green-X program, we’ve launched a smart heating initiative that’s cutting costs, shrinking our carbon footprint, and making our operations more efficient.
Green-X is Nash’s internal sustainability program, powered by a team of volunteers from across departments. These are people who carve out time from their regular roles to tackle environmental challenges head-on.
The team meets monthly to share ideas and identify opportunities. Their focus? Practical, high-impact improvements that make our operations more sustainable. From replacing traditional bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs to analyzing water usage and tracking down heating leaks in building walls, Green-X is all about finding and fixing the small things that add up to big results.
What makes Green-X work is its grassroots energy. It’s a collaborative effort led by people who care. Project managers, engineers, purchasing specialists—they all bring their expertise to the table. And because they’re already embedded in the day-to-day operations, they know exactly where to look for “low-hanging fruit” that can deliver real value. The smart heating system is a perfect example of what happens when that kind of initiative meets the right technology.
And it’s not just about saving money or hitting targets. It’s about building a culture where sustainability is everyone’s job.
Heating buildings the traditional way—using oil, gas, or outdated electric systems—is both expensive and environmentally damaging. As energy prices continue to rise across Europe, companies are feeling the pressure. According to the World Economic Forum, heating accounts for nearly 40% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions, with most of that coming from fossil fuel-based systems.
Nash’s Green-X team saw the heating system not just as a cost issue but as a sustainability challenge. Ingersoll Rand set ambitious targets for 2030 and 2050 to reduce carbon footprint for all its brands, including Nash, and the team knew that sticking with conventional heating wouldn’t get them there.
At the same time, they couldn’t afford to compromise on comfort or safety. Employees need a warm, welcoming environment to do their best work. So the question became: how do we heat smarter, not harder?
The system the Green-X team installed to tackle rising energy costs and meet the sustainability goals is fully computer-controlled. That means it doesn’t just turn on and off at fixed times. Instead, it responds to real-time data and adjusts automatically based on how the building of our Nuremberg plant is being used.
At the heart of the system are sensors, specifically for lighting, vibration, and noise. As long as two of these sensors detect activity, the system knows someone is in the room and keeps it heated. If only one sensor is active, it gives a 10-minute grace period before starting to cool things down. This helps avoid unnecessary heating when spaces are empty, without making anyone uncomfortable.
What’s more, the system learns. Over time, it picks up on patterns, for example, when people usually arrive and leave, and adjusts the heating schedule accordingly. This kind of adaptive behavior means we’re not wasting energy heating rooms that no one’s using.
The decision to invest in a smart heating system was as much about modernizing as about making a measurable impact. And that’s exactly what it delivered.
The Nash Nuremberg Plant is now saving around €22,000 each year on energy costs. With an initial investment of €40,000, the system paid for itself in under two years.
But the benefits go beyond the bottom line. The system has helped cut CO₂ emissions and significantly improve the plant’s energy efficiency. Because it adapts to how people actually use the space, it keeps rooms comfortable when needed and avoids wasting energy when they’re not. It’s a smarter, cleaner, and more responsive way to heat our workplace.
The Green-X initiative is led by Oliver Albert. He has been part of the company for over 23 years, starting as a student and growing into a leadership role that spans quality assurance, occupational health and safety, and sustainability. He’s known for his hands-on approach, his ability to connect with both executives and shop floor teams, and his belief that preventing accidents and emissions is always better than managing the consequences. As he often reminds his engineers, “The worst-case scenario for me is filling out the paperwork but you’re the one who suffers the injury.”
Oliver’s leadership also helped establish the management system that underpins our ISO 9001 certification, and now, he’s guiding the Green-X team toward the company’s 2030 and 2050 sustainability goals. Under his guidance, the Green-X team has become a model for grassroots sustainability in action.
Upgrading to an intelligent heating system proved that smart steps can deliver big results. It also reinforced the power of cross-functional teamwork, with the Green-X initiative showing how collaboration across departments can drive meaningful progress. Looking ahead, we plan to replicate this success in other facilities and continue pushing toward our 2030 and 2050 sustainability goals. With the Green-X team leading the charge, innovation and impact will remain at the heart of our journey.
Senior Manager Quality Nash EMEA
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