GE Aviation's Rutland facility shared its energy reduction strategies with leading Vermont industrial businesses along with state and Congressional leaders at a special meeting on May 18 at the GE Aviation Rutland facility. GE has saved 15 million kilowatt hours of electricity and nearly 8,000 tons of CO2 in emissions reduced.
Since 2006, the GE Aviation Rutland facility and Efficiency Vermont have worked together to identify and implement energy savings programs at the 400,000-square-foot Windcrest Road and 100,000-square-foot Columbian Avenue locations. The team has completed 16 projects that have reduced the annual electrical usage by more than 15 million kwh and reduced CO2 emission by close to 8,000 tons. GE Aviation estimates its annual electrical cost savings is more than $1 million for both Rutland locations.
Examples of energy savings projects include:
- Lighting upgrades: Changing lighting from high pressure sodium fixtures to high performance T8 high bay fixtures. Annual savings of close to 2.5 million kWh in electricity and reduction of 1,000 tons of CO2 emissions, as well improved lighting in manufacturing areas.
- Right sizing equipment: Replacing eight over-sized rotary ovens with eight right-sized ovens and reduction in compressed air consumption. Annual savings of nearly 1 million kWh in electricity and reduction of more than 450 tons of CO2 emissions.
- Aligning infrastructure to new processes: Changing two 100 HP ventilation systems to two 5 HP ventilation systems. Annual savings of more than 1 million kWh in electricity and reduction of more than 550 tons of CO2 emissions.
- Reducing compressed air consumption:Replacing 11 air diaphragm pumps with 11 electric pumps. Annual savings of more than 440,000 kWh in electricity and reduction of close to 230 tons of CO2 emissions.
- Creating employee energy awareness: Promoting energy conservation on the shop floor through employee awareness and simple equipment shut down and start up procedures in all production areas. This program, with little or no capital expense, yielded an estimated 12% electrical reduction in one year.
‘The team’s efforts have provided significant benefits to the site as well as the environment,’ said Dan DiBattista, plant manager for GE Aviation Rutland. ‘The energy savings is enough to power close to 900 Vermont homes annually and the CO2 emission reduction is the equivalent of removing close to 475 cars off the road each year.’
‘GE Aviation is a leader in energy efficiency in the state of Vermont,’ said Mike Leonard, key account manager for Efficiency Vermont. ‘We’ve been pleased to partner with them as they’ve taken energy efficiency to a whole new level through process improvements and making energy use reduction a key part of operations.’
The energy efficiency efforts are part of GE’s ecomagination initiative, which includes a commitment by GE to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25 percent, water usage by 25 percent and energy intensity reduction by 50 percent. For more information about GE’s ecomagination, visit:www.ecomagination.com.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. GE Aviation Rutland manufactures airfoils and vane for jet engines used in commercial and military aircraft. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation. Follow GE Aviation on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/GEAviation and YouTube athttp://www.youtube.com/user/GEAviation.
Efficiency Vermont was created by the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Public Service Board to help all Vermonters reduce energy costs, strengthen the economy, and protect Vermont’s environment. Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) operates Efficiency Vermont under an appointment by the Vermont Public Service Board. VEIC is a Vermont-based nonprofit organization founded in1986. For more information, contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit www.efficiencyvermont.com.
Pictured: Front Row, L to R
Paul Bender, GE Aviation
Charlie Barker, GE Aviation
Drew Hamer, GE Aviation
Middle Row, L to R
Rick Thibodeau, Efficiency Vermont
Jonathan Aldrich, IBM
Kate Hunter, Efficiency Vermont
Back Row, L to R
Mike Leonard, Efficiency Vermont
Senator Vincent Illuzzi
Jim Merriam, Efficiency Vermont
Lt. Governor Phil Scott
Senator Bill Carris
Dan DiBattista, GE Aviation
Source: GE. RUTLAND, VT ‘ May 18, 2011 ‘