In February, Midwest Energy Cooperative worked with its Cassopolis neighbor, Postle Extrusion, to complete the first Energy Optimization (EO) commercial and industrial project for 2012. And what a start it was!
Postle Extrusion, a manufacturer of aluminum construction components for the recreational vehicle and manufactured home industries, worked with Kalamazoo-based Midwest Energy Group to re-light their entire facility. The company spent about $71,000 replacing or retrofitting 396 fixtures throughout the manufacturing and office space. Working through the EO program, they will receive a $15,000 (maximum allowed/year) EO rebate resulting in an astounding 11.7 month payback.
Postle runs three work shifts, seven days a week, and cranks out over 600 tons of aluminum monthly.
The changes will save them more than 435,768 kWh annually. Not only will they realize a great return on their investment, but the employees are enjoying, on average, a 35 percent increase in light at their working surface. The general manager is hopeful for greater production and better quality assurance and control from the improved lighting, and is confident his employees are now working in a safer environment. They have four more facilities outside of our service territories and proposals are in the works to install similar energy efficiency upgrades.
For more information about the Commercial and Industrial Program, or any of our other EO offerings, please call 877-296-4319 or visit Michigan-energy.org.
