HARBEC On Track to Achieve 25% Energy Savings through the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge

May 9, 2014 - PRLog -- WASHINGTON – Yesterday HARBEC, Inc  was recognized by the Energy Department for its achievements in the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge and for reducing energy intensity by 16.5% percent as of 2013. This is more than half way towards accomplishing their 25% goal by 2020.. The announcement was made at the first National Better Buildings Summit on May 8, along with the release of second year accomplishments and results. Better Buildings Challenge Partners are demonstrating progress to achieve 20 percent or more energy savings in ten years, with annual energy savings of 2.5 percent or $300 million.

“By committing to cut energy use, Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge partners are demonstrating how businesses and manufacturers are reducing our nation’s energy bill, creating American jobs, and protecting the environment,” said Dr. David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. “With commitments representing more than 600 plants and facilities, these partners are leading the way to a cleaner energy economy.”

The Better Buildings Challenge is a national leadership initiative launched by President Obama in 2011 with the goal of making American commercial, multifamily, and industrial buildings 20 percent more energy efficient in ten years. The Better Buildings Challenge supports President Obama’s broader goal of doubling American energy productivity by 2030 while motivating corporate and public sector partners across the country to save energy through commitments and investments.

Company president Bob Bechtold states, ”HARBEC has been working to improve sustainability through energy reduction and efficiency for 15 years. We are proud to be part of this distinguished group of like-minded organizations and energy leaders.”

HARBEC has made significant energy efficiency and resource utilization improvements including:

·          On-site deployment of renewable and alternative energy technologies including two wind turbines and a combined heat and power system.

·         Energy measurement and management systems, including the adoption of ISO 50001 and participation in DOE’s Superior Energy Performance Program.

·         Proactive equipment procurement guidelines: HARBEC has created and adopted “Eco-Economic Decision Criteria” which assesses equipment energy efficiency and performance in-step with facility requirements and cost.

·         Energy efficiency projects including high efficiency lighting and daylight gathering, building envelope, HVAC, and thermal energy efficiency improvements.

·         HARBEC has implemented efficiency solutions within manufacturing processes, such as the application of insulation to the barrels of every injection molding machine utilizing higher efficiency electric injection molding machines within its manufacturing operations

At the National Summit, the Energy Department announced that in 2013, Better Buildings Challenge partners successfully reduced the energy use of their buildings and industrial facilities by more than 2.5 percent. These energy savings are the equivalent of about $100 million a year. Since 2011, partners have committed more than 3 billion square feet and 600 manufacturing plants and facilities to energy efficiency upgrades, and have shared energy performance results for more than 9,000 facilities. Through participation, Partners have saved 36 trillion Btus and $300 million since the Better Buildings Challenge began.

In the past year, there are more than 190 organizations participating from local governments, school districts and universities, to commercial real estate, healthcare and manufacturing companies. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, Partners have created and shared more than 110 solutions including showcase projects and implementation models to help the marketplace move more quickly to adopt energy efficiency measures. In addition, the Challenge includes a network of financial and utility allies to assist partners in overcoming financial and data access barriers across the marketplace.

For a detailed progress report on HARBEC’s  Better Buildings Better Plants Challenge and to find out more about the Challenge, visit: http://www4.eere.energy.gov/challenge/partners/better-buildings-better-plants/harbec

About HARBEC

Founded by Bob Bechtold in 1977, HARBEC’s mission is to provide tightly toleranced prototypes, tooling, machined components and quality injection molded parts in a sustainable manner with a social conscience. They provide superior customer service, satisfaction and timely delivery of custom engineered solutions. HARBEC proudly foster an atmosphere of encouragement and respect for the health and prosperity of their customers, employees, and the global community.

Harbec provides capabilities and solutions for the consumer product, sporting goods, defense/aerospace, transportation, medical, marine, and energy industries. Harbec has capabilities in the use of innovative materials, problem-solving, and working with R&D and commercial organizations on unique prototypes or engineering and manufacturing groups on high volume production. HARBEC has capabilities for short (1-to-100 parts) or longer run (>1M parts) production.

HARBEC is certified as an ITAR, ISO9000-2008, ISO14001, and ISO15001/SEP Company, demonstrating its use of “eco-economic” decisions and policies designed to ensure that its activities are sustainable. HARBEC has developed and implemented a myriad of solutions to offset emissions, utilize waste and conserve resources. HARBEC reached its goal of “no carbon footprint” in 2013. Currently, the facility has a 250kW and 850kW wind turbines and operates a twenty-five microturbine combined heat and power plant which generates electricity and provides thermal energy to meet the heating and cooling requirements of the facility. For more information, please visit: http://www.HARBEC.com