Refrigeration, lighting experts among ‘Energy Leaders’ honored at Efficiency Vermont’s annual business event
KILLINGTON, VT
Five organizations honored for energy leadership at 12th annual Best Practices Exchange (BPX)
KILLINGTON, VT—More than 200 attendees participated in Efficiency Vermont’s Best Practices Exchange (BPX) this week. BPX is an annual gathering of the state’s largest commercial and industrial operators. Leaders from Vermont's major energy-using operations attended. They ranged from healthcare centers and colleges, to industrial producers, facility managers, and mechanical contractors. The event also honored five organizations with Energy Leadership awards.
The event, hosted at Killington Grand Resort Hotel, ran from Wednesday, September 20 to Thursday, September 21. In the past BPX was a gathering of companies and industries using the most energy in the state. This year small and medium-sized businesses were also invited to take part. Attendees had opportunities to share the latest in efficiency practices and technologies. And a chance to build relationships and cultivate professional connections.
Efficiency Vermont managing director Peter Walke welcomed attendees to this year’s event. He stressed the need for Vermont’s businesses to apply their experience with efficiency to help with Vermont's flood recovery. And he underlined Efficiency Vermont’s renewed focus on equity for business efficiency projects. It's a commitment Walke said requires greater investment. But will achieve a more equitable outcome for all.
“Certain communities in our state face unique and significant barriers to energy-saving services and technologies,” Walke said. “We’re committed to leveraging our resources to support and uplift historically disenfranchised businesses, partners, and communities. Investments in energy efficiency result in societal benefits that help all Vermonters.”
The BPX keynote speaker was Kristen Graf, the Global Director of Environmental and Social Responsibility for Darn Tough Vermont. Her keynote address underscored the theme of equity. The sock maker's focus on sustainability includes emissions, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. That's allowed it to become a global brand supplying nationwide retailers like REI.
“As a local manufacturer working globally, we have to recognize the impacts of our actions on our workforce, our community, and the world,” Graf said. “I’m thankful to do this complicated work with a company like Darn Tough. Our company has longstanding commitments to approaching challenges with authenticity. And for fostering strong relationships with our customers, suppliers, and partners like Efficiency Vermont.”
Walke told attendees that Efficiency Vermont energy experts are ready and willing to help them evolve their sustainability efforts. That can begin with energy-saving projects and work toward larger goals like emissions reductions. Energy experts work with individual businesses to develop a deep understanding of their organization’s energy needs, and apply those insights to optimizing their operations. That technical help is on top of incentives to help Vermont’s large energy users invest in energy efficiency projects and technologies that can lower operating costs and cut energy use.
Energy Leadership awards went to five Vermont companies that made large investments in energy efficiency in the past year. This year’s Energy Leaders include:
- Commitment Award: Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. For more than a decade, CVMC has been investing in energy improvement. They achieved the first ENERGY STAR rating for a Vermont hospital in 2016. Their efforts include a retro-commissioning study that fine-tuned their HVAC systems and optimization of their chilled water system and data center cooling. Their work progressed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their commitment drove improvements that have led to $63,000 in savings per year. That commitment reduces energy and operating costs, while improving staff and patient safety and well-being.
- Impact Award: Dailey Precast, LLC, in Shaftsbury. Dailey Precast specializes in the design and manufacturing of precast or pre-stressed concrete products. Their work can be found in parking structures, buildings, and sports stadiums throughout the northeast. The machinery, time, labor, and energy involved in creating these products is significant. Dailey Precast leaders reduced operational expenses by replacing their plant’s fluorescent high-bay lighting with LEDs, and right-sizing their compressed air needs with a variable frequency drive. It all adds up to a total of $66,000 in savings per year.
- Innovation Award: Turner Piping & Refrigeration in Rutland. Kurt Matzke and the Turner Piping and Refrigeration team are experts at refrigeration installation, maintenance, repair, and efficiency. In the past seven years, they’ve completed 40 custom projects, saving customers over 4 million kWh annually. Turner has installed hundreds of high-efficiency evaporators, condensers, and electronically commuted fan motors. They’ve also helped test new programs and cutting-edge equipment. And they’ve worked on refrigeration pilots in partnership with Efficiency Vermont and customers. That led to the development of new energy savings measures for refrigeration efficiency.
- Partner of the Year Award: Net Zero Design in Waterbury Center. Net Zero Design is a full-service, energy-efficient electrical contractor. They specialize in the design and vertical integration of lighting and control systems for businesses, including custom state-of-the-art retrofits. Their approach optimizes each individual space. Creating modular, tunable systems that deliver the exact amount of light needed. In the past eight years, they’ve completed more than 100 comprehensive retrofits, saving customers over 16 million kWh per year.
- Energy Champion Award: Kyle Skrocki of Landmark College in Putney. Kyle Skrocki is the Energy Champion and Director of Facilities Operations at Landmark College. He’s been a leader in controls optimization and flexible load management in the state. Through his efforts, Landmark will be the first Vermont college campus to be 100% LED by the end of this year. With support from Efficiency Vermont, Landmark also upgraded its campus-wide building controls for its HVAC system, helping manage electrical load during peak hours. The college has completed 47 projects since 2003, saving the campus 1,150,000 kWh annually.
About Efficiency Vermont
As the nation’s first Energy Efficiency Utility, Efficiency Vermont has helped Vermont avoid over 13.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award for the last eight consecutive years. Efficiency Vermont works with partners to help our state transition to more affordable, low carbon energy use through education, incentives, and support for our clean energy workforce. Learn more at www.efficiencyvermont.com.
Efficiency Vermont Press Contact
Matthew Smith
Phone: (802) 540-7662
[email protected]