Orion Energy Systems: Lighting power reduction brings environmental award to Badger Plastics

For further Information contact:
Dave Cary, Communication Specialist
Orion Energy Systems
(920)-892-5804
dcary@oriones.com

Steve Behm, General Manager
Badger Plastics Inc.
(715) 345-0009 or
plastics@coredcs.com.

Badger Plastics Corporation, a Plover WI concern, has been chosen to receive Orion’s environmental stewardship award for its recent annual 22,896 kWh lighting power reduction — better than 51 percent — that came as a result of a change in plant lighting.

Environmentally, a power reduction this size means that over the 20-year life of the Orion fixtures, some 446 tons of CO2, 122 tons of carbon, 1.9 tons of Sulfur dioxide and one ton of Nitrogen oxides will not be released into the atmosphere. Over the same time span, the move is the equivalent of or saving 37,888 gallons of gas, and is also the air-scrubbing equivalent of a four-acre forest or removing four cars from the road. The move also cut Badger’s electric bill for lighting by over 50 percent, as well.

“We’re glad to do out part for the environment when we can, and we appreciate the recognition for it” said Badger General manager Steve Behm. “But with the economics of the new lighting versus the old involved, it was kind of an easy decision to make.”

“Badger Plastics’ savings are real and permanent,” commented Neal Verfuerth, president of Orion Energy Systems, who supplied the new lighting system. “This sustainable savings of electrical consumption could serve as a blueprint for other companies, and I think it’s especially important for smaller businesses who are actually players in a global energy marketplace.”

According to US government data, the business sector of the economy uses 70% of the power generated in the country — and that about one third of that goes for lighting.

“By presenting Badger with our Environmental Stewardship Award,” Verfuerth continued, “Orion wants to highlight the fact that this energy efficient lighting project was good for everyone — good for the business’ bottom line, good for employee relations good for the environment, good for our energy future.”

Previously, the Badger plant had been lit by 37 400-watt metal halide lamps, which were replaced by the same number of Orion Illuminator (R) T8 fluorescent fixtures. As a result, the amount of electric power used for lighting by Badger fell from 44,733 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year to 21,837 kWh – a savings of 22,896 kWh, or 51 percent. Badger’s lighting bill fell correspondingly. With a 46.3 percent return on investment, the project will pay for itself in energy savings in a little over two years.

“We could see a certain amount of savings even before the project was complete,” said Behm. “We’ve been very satisfied with the cost savings and it was a big point for us, to achieve quality lighting. We do a lot of layout work and a fair amount of detail work – and the lighting is much, much better that what we had from metal halides.”

Badger Plastics and Supply Inc. specializes in products made from plastics developed for heavier duty applications – bearings, bushings, roller wheels etc., associated with conveyor or chain drive systems – where wearability is important and good release properties can reduce the power requirements of the driving motor. Badger also makes larger products that call for wear ability and good release characteristics such as dump truck linings. Badger is located at 3451 Johnson Ave., Plover WI 54467 and can be reached at (715) 345-0009 or at plastics@coredcs.com.

Located in Plymouth, WI, Orion Energy Systems has been innovating in the energy and lighting business since 1996. Orion’s innovative Illuminator ® fixture, an energy-efficient lighting platform for industrial applications, has been awarded a series of 14 patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Additionally, Orion has applied for numerous other patents related to metering and control technologies for lighting.

Neal Verfuerth, Orion President, received one of Wisconsin’s most prestigious awards, the Ernst & Young 2004 Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year.

Orion provides capacity displacement solutions for supply side management, transmission management, and demand side management for the electricity industry. Visit the Orion website at http://www.oriones.com/.