Semiconductors Help to Save Energy

There are billions of power supplies in use worldwide in computing, telecommunications and consumer electronics. The average desktop PC wastes half the power delivered to it. Computing power demands are growing, as users increase and applications become more and more power intensive. The LFoundry process is one of the lowest power consuming process with low leakage. LFoundry has taken the responsibility to save energy and reduce its carbon footprint.

The Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Activities

For 10 years LFoundry has been participating in the European Semiconductor Industry's agreement to reduce the emission of perflourocarbons (PFCs) by 10% by 2010. We continuously invest in alternative materials and in installing improved abatement systems.

Sustainability in the Resources and Energy Conservation

LFoundry is highly aware of its climate protection responsibility. Apart from the already implemented resource reduction activities, e.g. the improvement of the ultra-pure water recycling rate, the separation and recycling of waste and the reduction of emissions more than 6 years ago at its headquarters in Landshut, LFoundry implemented additional techniques to save energy and reduce C0₂ emissions.

The most prominent of such projects at facilities and offices are:

• Free-cooling effect: During almost 65% of the time of the year, the water for cooling the process machines can be cooled down in cooling towers. Combining this with an investment in two new very high efficient turbo chillers, this results in a saving of electric power of 3.750 MWh/a in the average.
• Usage of heat exchange on dry air and nitrogen compressors: Waste heat is used to pre-heat the clean room, building and offices. The result is a saving of natural gas of approx. 4.000 MWh/a of thermal energy.
• Clean room air velocity adjustment: The air circulation in our clean room is boosted by many fan-filter-units (FFUs). By deploying individual electronic motor controls for variable speed drive, the saving is approx. 70% of the initial electrical power.
• Efficient lighting with advanced electronic ballasts helps to reduce the energy used significantly.
• Improved IT infrastructure helps to save electrical energy by not only automatically switching switch off computers not in use and but also provides visual awareness of the consumption savings to all employees.

Additional saving techniques include:

• Networking of HVAC systems to maximize energy savings
• “Low power consumption” specification is a key criteria in the selection process for the purchase of all new equipment
• Reduction in the number of required computer servers by the usage of a virtual hardware network