MEDIA CONTACT
Mark Treichel
Hoffman York
(414) 225-9554
mtreichel@hyc.com
– Focus on Energy recognizes Ace Ethanol, Ball Corporation, Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Cascades Tissue, Luther Midelfort Mayo Health System, Professional Hospitality, LLC, Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC, T. Wall Properties and the Wisconsin Grocers Association for energy efficiency improvements –
Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (August 26, 2009) – Ace Ethanol of Stanley; Ball Corporation, with locations in Milwaukee and De Forest; Briggs & Stratton Corporation of Milwaukee; Cascades Tissue of Eau Claire; Luther Midelfort Mayo Health System of Eau Claire; Professional Hospitality, LLC of Madison; Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC of Green Bay; T. Wall Properties; and the Wisconsin Grocers Association were honored yesterday at the Energy and the Bottom Line Conference & Expo in Wisconsin Dells for earning the prestigious Governor’s Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency.
With the help of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, and more than $1 million in combined financial incentives, these companies have launched aggressive energy saving efforts and continue to investigate new technologies and find more ways to save energy throughout their businesses. Since 2008:
* Ace Ethanol has saved more than 887,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and 160,000 therms of natural gas annually-enough energy to power 255 Wisconsin homes for a year. To reduce energy use, the plant added additional controls to its boiler combustion management system; upgraded the process heating for its corn syrup heater and added tank insulation; installed a variable-speed drive on its process boiler induced draft fan and completed numerous feasibility studies to find innovative and cost-effective ways to save energy. From these efforts the ethanol plant will benefit from a $244,000 savings in annual energy costs.
* Ball Corporation has saved more than 1.8 million kWh of electricity and 470,000 therms of natural gas annually-enough energy to power 665 homes for a year. The company will also save $650,000 in annual energy costs. To save energy, the two-piece beverage and food cans manufacturer installed an innovative heat recovery system that captures waste heat from its regenerative thermal oxidizer and uses it to supply heated water to the can washing system. The plant also installed new energy management controls for its heating, cooling and ventilation system; replaced nearly 600 light fixtures with high efficiency models and completed several feasibility studies to find even more ways to save energy throughout its plant.
* Briggs & Stratton Corporation has saved more than 5.5 million kWh of electricity annually, enough energy to power 557 homes for a year, and will save more than $432,000 in annual energy costs. To become more energy efficient, the small engine and outdoor power equipment manufacturer upgraded more than 5,000 light fixtures to high-efficiency models; installed over 2,500 occupancy sensors; added variable-speed drives on its ventilation fans; purchased an ENERGY STAR® ice machine and sent staff members to advanced energy efficiency courses to find more ways to save.
* Cascades Tissue has saved more than 1.5 million kWh of electricity and 7,600 therms of natural gas annually-enough energy to power 159 homes for a year. The tissue paper producer will benefit from $125,000 in savings on annual energy costs. To reduce energy, the plant upgraded more than 350 light fixtures to energy-efficiency models; installed 170 lighting occupancy sensors; added high efficiency fans, pumps, motors, repulper rotors and extraction plates; installed a variable-speed drive on its process pump motor and continues to investigate more ways to save energy through numerous feasibility studies.
* Luther Midelfort Mayo Health System has saved more than 966,000 kWh of electricity and 36,000 therms of natural gas-enough energy to power 135 homes for a year. To reduce energy usage, the hospital started an energy management committee to execute an array of energy projects to help reduce consumption at the facility. The committee installed 250 lighting occupancy sensors; upgraded to high-efficiency ENERGY STAR food service equipment and vending machine controls; added low-flow faucet aerators; installed variable-speed drives on its ventilation fans; added a PC network energy management system and upgraded to NEMA high-efficiency motors.
* Professional Hospitality, LLC has saved more than 1.9 million kWh of electricity and 10,000 therms of natural gas-enough energy to power 204 homes for a year. To reduce energy usage, Professional Hospitality installed guest room energy management systems; bathroom motion sensor controls; vending machine controls; low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators; and compact florescent lighting in 10 hotels across Wisconsin. Locations include The Best Western American Heritage Inn in Spooner; the County Inn & Suites in Appleton, Green Bay, Kenosha, Madison and Milwaukee; The Days Inn in Hurley; Fairfield Inn & Suites in Beloit and Green Bay; and Microtel Inn & Suites in Green Bay. As a result of its energy efficiency efforts, Professional Hospitality will save the hotels $162,000 in annual energy costs.
* Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC has saved more than 90,000 kWh of electricity and 100,000 therms of natural gas annually-enough energy to power 121 homes for a year. To reduce energy usage, the retail store completed custom heating, cooling and ventilation upgrades; installed insulation, overhead door seals and lighting occupancy sensors; and completed store-wide roof-top unit tune-ups. As a result of its energy efficiency efforts, Shopko will save $125,000 in annual energy costs.
* T. Wall Properties has saved more than 386,000 kWh of electricity and 3,000 therms of natural gas-enough energy to power 42 homes for a year. To reduce energy usage, the commercial real estate developer retrocommissioned a 200,000 square-foot building in Middleton resulting in substantial energy savings, a cost reduction of $33,500 in annual energy costs and a return on investment in just over a year. This year the firm is working to retrocommission three additional facilities totaling over 700,000 square feet.
* The Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) has actively partnered with Focus on Energy to promote the value of energy efficiency to grocery stores across the state. Some initiatives include starting the “Green Grocer” pilot program which recognizes stores that save energy, reduce waste and run “green” programs. In addition, the WGA rewards its members for upgrading their kitchen equipment to high-efficiency, ENERGY STAR models. The association also promotes success stories and provides informative energy articles in its Wisconsin Grocer Magazine, as well as hosts panels at its annual conventions to address energy issues. The association has been a vital part in helping Wisconsin grocery stores save money and boost their bottoms lines through energy efficiency efforts.
“We’re proud to honor these outstanding companies with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency,” said Ken Williams, Focus on Energy’s business programs director. “We applaud their commitment to the environment and recognize them as positive examples for other businesses to follow.”
Since 2001, Focus on Energy has delivered cost effective energy solutions to Wisconsin consumers, farms and businesses. Focus can help businesses identify and evaluate energy saving opportunities, report findings with specific recommendations, develop energy management plans and arrange technical training opportunities about energy conservation – helping improve bottom lines and lower operating cost.
For more information on Focus on Energy, call (800) 762-7077 or visit http://www.focusonenergy.com.
About Focus on Energy
Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Focus information, resources and financial incentives help to implement projects that otherwise would not be completed, or to complete projects sooner than scheduled. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control the state’s growing demand for electricity and natural gas. For more information, call (800) 762-7077 or visit focusonenergy.com .
