Quaker Oats Cuts Energy Use, Earns Cash Incentive

Quaker Oats, part of PepsiCo, has earned more than $100,180 in rebates, in addition to lowering its energy bill, for reducing the company’s energy consumption at its Cedar Rapids facility, reports Interstate Power & Light Company, an Alliant Energy company.

As part of the Custom Rebate program, Quaker Oats replaced the HVAC system with more energy-efficient air conditioners, consolidated the number of motors used in processing of which many were damaged by the summer floods of 2008, and installed new high-efficient motors.

With these retrofits, Quaker Oats expects to cut electricity consumption by more than 1,070,610 kWh each year, resulting in an estimated energy savings of $64,100 annually, while earning $100,181.99 in energy efficiency rebates from Alliant Energy. The company also will avoid more than 769 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

In October last year, the Quaker Oats Bridgeview Division food manufacturing plant installed two Miura Boiler LX200 gas-fired steam boilers to reduce fuel and water consumption, increase energy efficiency, and cut emissions.

Quaker Oats also was the first cereal brand to carry the Carbon Trust Carbon Reduction Label.