Unitil, (unitil.com), a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, worked with UTZ Quality Foods to improve the energy efficiency of their Fitchburg facility.
"...the technology of these new fixtures has come along way. It’s NSF-approved lighting, which is an independent certification standard, that not only saves energy, but makes for a much-improved work environment throughout all the departments in the plant.”
UTZ Quality Foods Plant Manager, Greg Krysiak
The Water Street plant, which has been churning out potato chips since 1939, replaced the existing 141 fluorescent lights with 137 LED fixtures. It includes a mix of styles – high bay, recessed and strip lighting.
The new light fixtures are projected to save 54,000 kWh in electricity annually, a reduction equivalent to the average annual usage of seven residential homes. The project qualified for a $53,000 energy efficiency rebate to help offset the project costs.
“The project worked out great,” Greg Krysiak, plant manager, said. “Even though some of the lighting had been replaced about 10 years ago, the technology of these new fixtures has come along way. It’s NSF-approved lighting, which is an independent certification standard, that not only saves energy, but makes for a much-improved work environment throughout all the departments in the plant.”
According to Alec O’Meara, Unitil’s media relations manager, there are numerous energy efficiency programs available to businesses whether they are large or small. “In this and many cases, we proactively approach companies with ways to use energy more efficiently. But we also encourage businesses to reach out to us for ways to save energy.”
