For further Information contact:
Dave Cary, Communication Specialist
Orion Energy Systems
(920) 892-5804
dcary@oriones.com
Bob Krummel
Manufacturing Superintendent
Miller-St. Nazianz Inc.
(920) 773-2121
Miller-St. Nazianz Corporation, a major Wisconsin farm implement manufacturer, has been chosen to receive Orion Energy Services’ environmental stewardship award for its recent annual 285,354 kWh lighting power reduction — better than 53 percent — that came as a result of a change in plant lighting from conventional metal halide lighting to a modern T8 fluorescent system from Orion.
Environmentally, a power reduction this size means that some 278 tons of CO2, 76 tons of carbon, 1.2 tons of Sulfur dioxide and .6 tons of Nitrogen oxides will not be released into the atmosphere each year, according to federal EPA formulas. It is also the air-scrubbing equivalent of a 52-acre forest or removing 46 cars from the road and is the conservation equivalent of saving 27,490 gallons of gasoline annually. The move also cut the company’s electric bill for lighting by over 53 percent, as well.
“We’re glad to do something that helps with environmental.issues,” said Dick Brown, Vice-president of manufacturing. “And when we ended up with not only that but saving money and having better light into the bargain it’s just win-win-win all around.”.
Manufacturing Superintendent Bob Krummel added, “We’re glad also that Orion was able to give such good — and accurate — guidance in this project. These awards are a very good thing.
Orion President Neal Verfuerth commented, “By presenting Miller St-Nazianz with our Environmental Stewardship Award, Orion wants to highlight the fact that this energy efficient lighting project was good for everyone — good for the company’s bottom line, good for employee relations, good for the environment, good for our energy future.”
“Also important, however, is the fact that by reducing its electric power load, Miller is helping us sow the seeds of more stable energy prices. Government figures indicate that businesses use 70 percent of the power generated in the country and about a third of that goes just for lighting.”
“If all companies would do what Miller did here — change to energy-efficient lighting — our analysis indicates the reduction would be the equivalent of sixty typical power plants nationwide. That’s sixty power plants we would not have to fund and build, sixty fewer to blend into the power grid with new transmission lines and equipment, sixty fewer to consume fuel. And that would be just from energy-efficient lighting.”
“This is why we feel energy efficiency is a vitally important road to travel,” Verfuerth concluded. “And we congratulate Miller St. Nazianz for helping energy efficiency take root.”
Previously, that Miller-St. Nazianz’s two plants — totaling 77,000 square feet — had been lit by 253 400-watt metal halide lamps, which were replaced by the same number of Orion Illuminator ™ T8 Fluorescent fixtures.
Krummel said he felt the change to Orion would save Miller $14,000 per year in energy costs – but that was not the only saving involved. “Before the project, our lighting panel was full — and we cut that load in half! Now our fuse box is empty and we can go again.It saved us big bucks just not having to put in additional electrical equipment.”
“We were a little apprehensive about the reception the new lighting would receive from people on the floor,” Kriummel said. “But everyone had a smile – they were a little happier and brighter. I’d say that the Orion fixtures give a different type of light — you end up with light everywhere.”
Established in the 1890s, Miller-St. Nazianz claims to be the professional’s choice in equipment for forage harvesting and feeding, manure handling and crop application technologies. Miller companies and brands include Badger Farm Systems, Miller Application Technologies, Miller Pro, Victor (a product line sold and serviced exclusively by John Deere® dealers) and Miller Finance Corporation. Among Miller’s products are dump boxes, cam action rotary rakes, power mergers, conveyors and feeders, forage boxes, forage blowers, barn cleaners and chains, running gear, silo unloaders and commercial and pickup-sized sprayers. Visit the Miller St. Nazianz website at http://www.millerstn.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/.
