Purdue Helps Company Reduce Energy Ahead of Projection

March 25, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Indiana companies are saving energy and reducing operating costs thanks to the Energy Efficiency Program offered by the Indiana Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center through Purdue University’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP). TAP’s energy assessment looks at ways to decrease utility bills, decrease production costs and cut emissions throughout facilities.

One company is even surpassing projected savings.

Haynes International Inc., Kokomo, Ind., for example, worked with the center to reduce its annual costs of $9.5 million in natural gas and $5 million in electricity. By addressing oxygen levels, gas consumption, quality demands, processes and leaks in the plant’s large furnaces, TAP helped the company save $500,000 in a few months, while the initial projection was to save $500,000 annually.

Ethan Rogers, Energy Efficiency program director said these savings were typical of similar assessments conducted at other manufacturers in north-central Indiana. Annual cost savings of $1.12 million were identified through eight company energy audits during the last quarter of 2008, and the companies will save enough natural gas to heat 1,020 homes, he added.

For Haynes, the energy assessment was the beginning of its sustainability program. The company also created an internal energy-efficiency team to routinely review the company’s production processes, upgrades and capital improvements.

Haynes now plans to focus on green training practices. Rogers said north-central Indiana’s WIRED Green Workers Certification will take a workforce approach to environmentally friendly manufacturing. The program will focus on the basics of clean manufacturing, including carbon credits, water resource management, waste minimization, alternative energy sources and the impact of the manufacturing process on the environment.

U.S. cities are starting to realize that a green workforce translates into green business opportunities. A recent study by the Greater Washington Board of Trade show that the Washington, DC region has the largest environmental services human capital pool in the country, prompting top officials from government, business, nonprofit, and academia in the region to discuss plans on taking advantage of green business opportunities and becoming a leader on environmental sustainability.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Stevenson on News Corp. Taps Hara for Energy Efficiency, Environmental Management
"All of us should think of ways to save energy now. It is not a myth,..."

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

Environmental Leader