Orion Energy Systems: Independent Printing Receives Environmental Stewardship Award

For more information, contact:
Steve Heins
VP Corporate Communications
920-892-9340 ext. 226

Energy Efficient Lighting Project Saves 7.2 Million Kilowatts

(DePere, WI) Independent Printing, a 70-year-old De Pere company, has received Orion’s Environmental Stewardship Award for the energy-efficient lighting project in the 73,500 square-foot manufacturing portion of its 97,500 square-foot facility. The company is saving 362,000 kilowatts hours (kWh) annually and 7.2 million kWh over the sustainable lifetime of the lighting fixtures. The project is being managed and supplied by Orion Energy Systems of Plymouth, Wisconsin.

In addition, the Wisconsin-based printer will take enough power off the electrical grid to provide enough electricity to power 48 homes, according to the EPA formula.

The environmental impact of Independent Printing’s energy-efficient lighting project will decrease air pollution and environmental damage over the lifetime of Orion’s fixture, the Illuminator, by 5,439 tons of carbon dioxide, 1,483 tons of carbon, 20 tons of sulfur dioxide, 46 tons of nitrous oxides, and one pound of mercury. This is the equivalent of saving 659,216 gallons of gas or planting 1,331 acres of trees.

‘This large act of sustainable reduction of electrical consumption by Independent Printing should serve as a blueprint for other companies in Northeastern Wisconsin in which several counties have been designated as severe non-attainment zones by the EPA,’ stated Neal Verfuerth, President of Orion Energy Systems. ‘By presenting Independent Printing with the Environmental Stewardship Award, Orion wanted to highlight the fact that this energy-efficient lighting project was good for everyone involved: It was good business, good employee relations, and good environmentalism.’

On June 24, 2004, Neal Verfuerth, President of Orion Energy Systems, received one of Wisconsin’s most prestigious awards, Ernst & Young’s Manufacturing Entrepreneur Of The Year. Recently, Orion has received the 2004 Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air Award given by the Wisconsin DNR.

‘This project became a slam dunk once we were able to measure the real-time consumption in the side-by-side comparison between our old lights and Orion’s. There are very few projects where you have such tangible results,’ commented Paul Smogoleski, facility manager of Independent Printing. ‘We were able to observe a 50 percent energy savings, which translates into an annual savings of $30,000 and a 27-month payback period. Plus, although we’ve always had color-correct light in specified areas for quality inspections, we are getting a better quality light known as a full-spectrum light, which provides us with better color rendering for quality inspections.’

About Independent Printing Company
Independent Printing, founded in 1935, is a high-quality, customer-service oriented commercial offset printer that employs over 200 individuals at their De Pere Industrial Park facility. Independent offers printing/communication services including full electronic prepress production; consulting and image management services; traditional, digital, and computer-to-plate print technologies; finishing services; and inventory/fulfillment services.

About Orion
Orion Energy Systems has been innovating in the energy and lighting business since 1996. Neal Verfuerth, President of Orion Energy Systems, received one of Wisconsin’s most prestigious awards, Ernst & Young’s 2004 Manufacturing Entrepreneur Of The Year. Recently, Orion has received the 2004 Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air Award given by the Wisconsin DNR. In addition, the company won the 2002 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Grand Award in the Emerging Growth category, given by the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Association, the Wisconsin Business Friend of the Environment Award, and was chosen as a ‘Success Story’ for the 2002 Governor’s Summit on Capital.

Orion’s innovative Illuminator, an energy efficient lighting platform for industrial applications, has been awarded a series of 12 patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Additionally, it has applied for numerous other patents relating to metering and control technologies for lighting.

Orion is an energy services company (ESCO), which manufactures and markets energy efficient lighting solutions for the school, gymnasium, manufacturing, warehousing, and commercial markets. Orion provides capacity displacement solutions for supply side management, transmission management, and demand side management for the electricity industry. For more information, please contact Stephen Heins, Vice President of Corporate Communications, Orion Energy Systems, sheins@oriones.com; 920-892-9340, ext. 226 or visit the web site at www.oriones.com.