nhbb :: NHBB Astro Continues Energy Efficiency Upgrades, Receives Another Rebate From PSNH's NHSaves Program

NHBB Astro Continues Energy Efficiency Upgrades, Receives Another Rebate From PSNH's NHSaves Program


Astro Division's Facilities and Environmental Manager, Herb Parkhurst (center), receives a rebate check from PSNH's Division Manager, Bonnie Kurylo (right), and Account Executive, Jim Cailler (left).

January 15, 2007 -- Astro Division, New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Laconia, NH: On Tuesday, January 9, representatives from PSNH dropped by the facility to present the Astro Division with two more rebate checks totaling $23,950. The division earned the rebates by completing two additional equipment upgrades, which are expected to lower the facility's energy consumption by over 414,000 kWh per year. This reduction will have the added benefit of significantly reducing CO2 emissions by 622,326 lbs per year.

According to the division's Facilities and Environmental Manager, Herb Parkhurst, these initiatives are not the first and only such projects the division has undertaken. "In 2005, we implemented a complete lighting retrofit that is saving 876,403 kWh of electricity annually," said Parkhurst. "And in the future, we will continue the search for new ways to reduce our consumption of energy."

For the first project, Astro replaced the motor-drives on eight swage-presses with variable speed drives. The new drives are designed to vary a motor's speed in response to a machine's workload, and they are more efficient during start-up. "By reducing an electric motor's speed by twenty-percent, it's possible to cut energy consumption almost in half," said Parkhurst. "A typical 40 hp motor costs approximately $18,000 a year to operate. By installing the variable speed drives, we can lower that to almost $9,000 a year." This first project was completed in September of 2006.

For the second project, Astro installed a new make-up air system above the facility's liner production room. The space must be kept at a constant temperature and humidity whether occupied or not. The make-up air unit supplies the room with conditioned air drawn entirely from outside, which requires more energy than a typical air conditioning system. To avoid wasting electricity, the facility worked with outside contractors to design the system to make use of excess cool air. "When the room is unoccupied for a given length of time, a sensor turns off an exhaust fan and the air from the make-up unit is redirected to the manufacturing space," said Parkhurst. "This allows us to relieve negative pressure in the building and help condition the entire facility." This second project was completed in December of 2006.

Earlier in the year, Astro undertook a detailed audit of the factory's energy use. Since Astro is registered to the ISO 14001 standard, Parkhurst and his staff regularly monitor the facility's environmental performance. "The goal we established was to limit electricity demand growth to a 5% increase on a per labor-hour basis," said Parkhurst. "Last Spring, we identified 15 conservation measures, which are things that we could do right away, and five energy conservation opportunities, which are longer term objectives that require planning and investment."

In July of 2006, before starting the retrofits, Parkhurst enrolled two of the projects in PSNH's NHSaves Program. This program is designed to lower electricity demand by providing industrial customers with an incentive to retrofit inefficient equipment. According to PSNH Account Executive, Jim Cailler, the program's aim is to lower rates for all of PSNH's customers. "We generate only enough power to meet approximately 75% of the state's energy demand," said Cailler. "The remaining 25% we must purchase on the open market. By lowering demand, we essentially reduce the amount of power we have to purchase elsewhere."

According to Parkhurst, the Astro Division's monthly contribution to the system's benefit fund averages about $2,000. "PSNH's program is a great way for us to make the necessary changes to our facility while keeping our costs in line with our annual operating budget," said Parkhurst. "Ultimately, every project we undertake to save energy impacts our bottom line, and it helps us keep our prices competitive as well."

Brief profile of the Astro Division's past energy-saving projects

In 2004, Astro replaced a 350 hp air compressor with a 275 hp variable speed air compressor, saving 525,600 kWh annually and earning the division a $40,000 rebate from PSNH
In 2005, Astro performed a complete lighting retrofit, saving 876,403 kWh annually and earning an $80,100 rebate
Earlier in 2006, Astro repaired the economizers on its rooftop air conditioning units. The units, which were not working properly, are designed to draw cool air into the building when the outside temperature is 55° F or less
Astro set the facility's night-time room-temperature setting ten degrees above the day-time temperature of 70° F. This "night set-back", which saves the division $900 a year, is regulated automatically with a computer software program hooked into the HVAC system
Astro even disconnected the lights in the snack and drink vending machines, saving 5,563 kWh annually

For more information contact:
Hans Baker, Marketing Coordinator
NHBB, 175 Jaffrey Road, Peterborough, NH 03458
603.924.4100, hbaker@nhbb.com