Reducing GHG Emissions and Improving Cost Effectiveness via Energy Efficiency Enhancements: A Case Study in a Biscuit Industry
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors
This is an interesting manuscript that determines the “Reducing GHG emissions and improving cost effectiveness via energy efficiency enhancements: A case study in a biscuit industry”. The methods are not novel but is acceptable. It should be noted the correction of several items is necessary in this manuscript. Specially, English language of writing should be modified in the whole of manuscript. Please study the “Guide for Authors” of journal, carefully and correct the manuscript based on the guideline.
Best Regards
Author Response
Reviewer 1:
This is an interesting manuscript that determines the “Reducing GHG emissions and improving cost effectiveness via energy efficiency enhancements: A case study in a biscuit industry”. The methods are not novel but is acceptable. It should be noted the correction of several items is necessary in this manuscript. Specially, English language of writing should be modified in the whole of manuscript. Please study the “Guide for Authors” of journal, carefully and correct the manuscript based on the guideline.
Thanks for your positive comments. All the suggestions have been accepted and manuscript corrected accordingly.
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript aims to investigate the current energy consumption in a company operating in food industry, and considers possible solutions for improving the energy efficiency.
Abstract;
Explain briefly the methodology and case in your study.
Keywords: Is “baking industry” really one of the key words? While it hasn’t used at all. It is better to be replaced with “food industry” or "baking"
Introduction;
- lines of 70-71, need a valid reference.
- Elaborate the 2nd paragraph with more recent scientific papers or updated valid reports.
- Lines of 102-103: Are there more recent references than 2008?
-As you referred in line 32, The role of smart technologies like internet of things, connected LED, smart lighting, or digitalization in saving energy should be mentioned.
- Some graphical figures, from references, should be used instead of numbers & percent.
- In the last paragraph, it is better to define a research question and explain the used methodology in the study.
- Add a new paragraph introducing the following sections of manuscript, briefly.
Methodology:
- It is better to divide this section to 2 sub-sections: 3.1. Case (lines of 149-157), 3.2. research design /collected data/instrument.
- Lines of 171-172: “A number of measurements … “ is unclear and general. Explain more.
- Elaborate this section by describing briefly proposed solutions/improvements/activities instead of referring to the previous documents. A comparison table should be used in terms of methods/features/characteristics applied by previous researchers/documents.
Results and Discussion:
- Elaborate with more details the theoretical contributions of your study.
- Make comparison with other research in order to show you improve their findings with your results.
Conclusion:
- The practical implications of the research should be elaborated
- Please, elaborate with more details the limitations of your work.
- Future research directions must be provided.
Some previous studies could be used, particularly, in section 1:
(2022). Integrated design and operation of energy systems for residential buildings, commercial buildings, and light industries. Applied Energy, 305, 117822.
(2021). Greenhouse gas emissions reduction by cross-sector integration of energy systems: Optimal sizing of integrated entities. Energy Conversion and Management, 248, 114788.
(2020). Analysis of energy efficiency improvement and carbon dioxide abatement potentials for Swiss Food and Beverage sector. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 161, 104967.
(2019). Mapping energy consumption in food manufacturing. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 86, 270-280.
(2019). Analysis of energy saving potentials in intelligent manufacturing: A case study of bakery plants. Energy, 172, 477-486.
(2019). Sustainable energy opportunities in localised food production and transportation: a case study of bread in the UK. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 20, 98-116.
(2018, September). IoT based energy consumption monitoring platform for industrial processes. In 2018 UKACC 12th International Conference on Control (CONTROL) (pp. 236-240). IEEE.
Author Response
The manuscript aims to investigate the current energy consumption in a company operating in food industry, and considers possible solutions for improving the energy efficiency.
Abstract;
Explain briefly the methodology and case in your study.
Amended, please see lines 21-26.
Keywords: Is “baking industry” really one of the key words? While it hasn’t used at all. It is better to be replaced with “food industry” or "baking"
Amended, please see lines 38-39
Introduction;
- lines of 70-71, need a valid reference.
Reference added, please see line 75
- Elaborate the 2nd paragraph with more recent scientific papers or updated valid reports.
The references have been replaced across the manuscript, please see the reference list
- Lines of 102-103: Are there more recent references than 2008?
Most of the all res]refences have been replaced with the resent ones.
-As you referred in line 32, The role of smart technologies like internet of things, connected LED, smart lighting, or digitalization in saving energy should be mentioned. Added in line 77-83.
- Some graphical figures, from references, should be used instead of numbers & percent.- Amended where applicable.
- In the last paragraph, it is better to define a research question and explain the used methodology in the study. Added, lines: 156-160
Methodology:
- It is better to divide this section to 2 sub-sections: 3.1. Case (lines of 149-157), 3.2. research design /collected data/instrument.
Modified, please see lines 166-77
- Lines of 171-172: “A number of measurements … “ is unclear and general. Explain more.
Modified, please see lines 189-199
- Elaborate this section by describing briefly proposed solutions/improvements/activities instead of referring to the previous documents. A comparison table should be used in terms of methods/features/characteristics applied by previous researchers/documents. – Amended as much as possible.
Results and Discussion:
- Elaborate with more details the theoretical contributions of your study. Amended in lines 205-299.
- Make comparison with other research in order to show you improve their findings with your results.- Amended iand new papers added n lines 205-299.
Conclusion:
- The practical implications of the research should be elaborate
- Please, elaborate with more details the limitations of your work. Added, see lines 373-374
- Future research directions must be provided. – Added, see lines 375-378
Some previous studies could be used, particularly, in section 1:
(2022). Integrated design and operation of energy systems for residential buildings, commercial buildings, and light industries. Applied Energy, 305, 117822.
(2021). Greenhouse gas emissions reduction by cross-sector integration of energy systems: Optimal sizing of integrated entities. Energy Conversion and Management, 248, 114788.
(2020). Analysis of energy efficiency improvement and carbon dioxide abatement potentials for Swiss Food and Beverage sector. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 161, 104967.
(2019). Mapping energy consumption in food manufacturing. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 86, 270-280.
(2019). Analysis of energy saving potentials in intelligent manufacturing: A case study of bakery plants. Energy, 172, 477-486.
(2019). Sustainable energy opportunities in localised food production and transportation: a case study of bread in the UK. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 20, 98-116.
(2018, September). IoT based energy consumption monitoring platform for industrial processes. In 2018 UKACC 12th International Conference on Control (CONTROL) (pp. 236-240). IEEE.
Most of the suggested papers have been incorporated.
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear Authors,
Thank you very much for this interesting article. To make it more valuable for the readers, I propose to introduce some changes and add and correct a few passages. After reading I have some advice and proposal.
Please write the amount in EURO or USD. In brackets can be written in GBP. Also in the table 1, I think it should be written GBP not sign of the value, but it would be much better to calculate into USD or EURO. Most of the world lists provide figures in USD or EURO. In many places authors used simply pound. Please check this table https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_(currency)
The authors wrote about the possibilities of reducing the impact on the environment, I propose to add an innovative use of by-products from the agri-food industry. Please read e.g The rape pomace and microcrystalline cellulose composites made by press processing, Sustainability 12 (4), 1311.
In the next paragraph of Introduction Authors mentioned about energy efficiency and energy efficient technologies. I suggest adding some citations from recent years, in which the issues of energy efficiency, eco-efficiency and innovative solutions in the food sector are discussed. I propose to read the article Energy and water efficiency in the gelatine production plant, AIMS Geosciences 6 (4), 491-503 and Innovative processes in managing an enterprise from the energy and food sector in the era of industry 4.0, Processes 9 (2), 381
Please check the numbering of the figures. Now there is Figure 1, Figure 3 and Figure 2. Why are the figures not numbered consecutively?
In the Methodology section Authors wrote about Line 1 and line 4. Figure 3 – what do a and b mean? Is it line 1 and line 4? Please make more precise on the Figure. Information that a = line 1 and b=line 4 there is too late. Moreover it complicates. It is better to make at the Figure line 1 and line 4 not a and b. Please also make short mentioning of the Figures in the main text.
Please add more references from 2019-2021. In the article, the authors referred to the years 2013-2015 even previous. There is only one article from 2018 and even earlier. Such references suggest that the article was written several years ago. In order to show the latest solutions, please add the latest publications. This will increase the value of the paper. Good luck.
Author Response
Thank you very much for this interesting article. To make it more valuable for the readers, I propose to introduce some changes and add and correct a few passages. After reading I have some advice and proposal.
Please write the amount in EURO or USD. In brackets can be written in GBP. Also in the table 1, I think it should be written GBP not sign of the value, but it would be much better to calculate into USD or EURO. Most of the world lists provide figures in USD or EURO. In many places authors used simply pound. Please check this table https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_(currency)
Amended, please see Tables 1 and 2.
The authors wrote about the possibilities of reducing the impact on the environment, I propose to add an innovative use of by-products from the agri-food industry. Please read e.g The rape pomace and microcrystalline cellulose composites made by press processing, Sustainability 12 (4), 1311.
Unfortunately, the suggested paper is not relevant to be used in this study.
In the next paragraph of Introduction Authors mentioned about energy efficiency and energy efficient technologies. I suggest adding some citations from recent years, in which the issues of energy efficiency, eco-efficiency and innovative solutions in the food sector are discussed. I propose to read the article Energy and water efficiency in the gelatine production plant, AIMS Geosciences 6 (4), 491-503 and Innovative processes in managing an enterprise from the energy and food sector in the era of industry 4.0, Processes 9, (2), 381
Unfortunately, the suggested paper is not relevant to be used in this study
Please check the numbering of the figures. Now there is Figure 1, Figure 3 and Figure 2. Why are the figures not numbered consecutively?
Figure 2 and Figure 3 have been swapped.
In the Methodology section Authors wrote about Line 1 and line 4. Figure 3 – what do a and b mean? Is it line 1 and line 4? Please make more precise on the Figure. Information that a = line 1 and b=line 4 there is too late. Moreover it complicates. It is better to make at the Figure line 1 and line 4 not a and b. Please also make short mentioning of the Figures in the main text.
The meaning of “a” and “b” are explained in the title of Figure 3. Please, see lines 223.
Please add more references from 2019-2021. In the article, the authors referred to the years 2013-2015 even previous. There is only one article from 2018 and even earlier. Such references suggest that the article was written several years ago. In order to show the latest solutions, please add the latest publications. This will increase the value of the paper. Good luck
More articles from the previous year are added and some older removed. The topic is barely new and not many articles are available.
Reviewer 4 Report
This is very simple and useful study. It is based on analysis of the energy consumption of the biscuit manufacturing company. The study identifies main energy users and proposed operational and technical improvements for enhancing the overall energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions.
The study may act as a preliminary investigation for further in-depth analyses, such as life cycle assessment (LCA), etc.
The study is quite useful and content is matched with scope and title. Hence, I would recommend its publication in its present form.
Author Response
This is very simple and useful study. It is based on analysis of the energy consumption of the biscuit manufacturing company. The study identifies main energy users and proposed operational and technical improvements for enhancing the overall energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions.
The study may act as a preliminary investigation for further in-depth analyses, such as life cycle assessment (LCA), etc.
The study is quite useful and content is matched with scope and title. Hence, I would recommend its publication in its present form.
Thanks for your positive comments.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors
This version can be published in the Sustainability.
Best Regards
Author Response
Thank you.
Reviewer 3 Report
Now paper is fine, please correct "pounds" in line 230
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thanks for your comment. It has been corrected.
Please see attached.
Kr, Valentina
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
