Contact: Rick Kuchelmeister, Metso Paper, Inc. at 920-749-4353 or Steve Heins, Orion Energy Systems, 920-892-5800
Energy Efficient Lighting Project Saves Metso 6.15 Million kWh
February 20, 2006. Appleton, WI. Recently, Metso Paper officials took time out of their busy schedules to accept the Environmental Stewardship Award from Orion Energy Systems of Plymouth, WI. Metso Paper was honored with the award for the significant environmental impact of their recent energy efficient lighting project, which saves 307,584 kWh annually. In addition, the project saves the company 102.5 Kilowatts, which is the equivalent of providing electricity to more than 102 homes.
Over the sustainable lifetime of the project, Metso Paper will save over 6.15 million kWh. This is like removing 871 cars from the road or saving 508,990 gallons of gasoline or saving 12,119 barrels of oil. According to the EPA formula, the actual environmental impact for the project is a reduction of emissions that include 5,998 tons of carbon dioxide, 1,636 tons of carbon, 26.1 tons of sulfur dioxide and 12.6 tons of nitrogen oxide.
The Metso Paper Manufacturing facility is approximately 100,000 square feet. By installing Orion’s patented fixture using 224 watts of electricity instead of the 1000 watt high pressure sodium, Metso Paper expects a 27-month payback on the new energy efficient lighting system. In addition, Metso Paper expects to save over $4,000 in maintenance each year.
According to Rick Kuchelmeister, Production Supervisor for Metso Paper, “We are very pleased to receive the Environmental Stewardship Award for the new energy efficient lighting project. With the large energy savings and the increase in the quality and quantity of light for our employees, this projects fits well with all of the other Metso Paper green initiatives. My advice to other businesses is that they need to look to cut their energy costs, because it can be done.”
In the last year alone Orion lighting systems helped customers save more than $37 million, 75 megawatts and 600 million kilowatt hours (kWh). Based on EPA estimates, Orion’s current installations remove 11.7 million tons of greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide) from the atmosphere over the lifetime of the fixture and will remove 3.2 million tons of carbon. Other savings include the removal of 50,880 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which affects acid rain; 24,540 tons of nitrous oxide (NOX), which is another greenhouse gas, and 444 pounds of mercury. This reduction in electricity usage is the environmental equivalent of removing 1.7 million cars from the road, saving 99.9 million gallons of gas or 23.6 million barrels of oil.
“The sustainable savings of electrical consumption by Metso Paper should serve as a blueprint for all of the Fox Valley,” stated Neal Verfuerth, CEO of Orion Energy Systems. “By presenting the Metso Paper team with the Environmental Stewardship Award, Orion wanted to highlight the fact that this energy efficient lighting project was good for everyone: It was good for Metso Paper’s bottom line, good for improved productivity, good for the environment, good for Wisconsin’s economic development and finally good for Metso Paper’s employees because of the better quality lighting.”
Kari Nettamo, Vice President and General Manager of Metso Paper, Appleton stated that he was very pleased with the opportunity to save energy, to improve profitability for the business, to ensure a higher standard of environmental citizenship not only for all Metso Paper employees, but also for the state of Wisconsin. “The Environmental Stewardship recognition is just a bonus.” Nettamo said.
