AUSTIN, MN — Austin Utilities presented Hormel Foods with rebate checks totaling more than $250,000 for installing energy-efficient equipment at its Austin (Minn.) Plant in 2010.
Austin Utilities and Hormel Foods partnered on two custom projects recently that included the installation of condensing economizers on processing boilers and a master air controller on their compressed air system.
Additional technologies that were eligible for rebates throughout the year included:
- Energy-efficient lighting and controls;
- High-efficiency central air conditioners;
- High-efficiency motors and variable speed drives; and
- Food service equipment.
By partnering with Austin Utilities, Hormel Foods will save more than 1.8 million kWhs and 350,000 therms of natural gas annually. This savings will help the utility meet their energy savings goal of 1.5 percent of their annual electric and natural gas sales.
“In 2007, we set a company goal to reduce energy consumption by 10 percent over five years, and these new technologies are examples of our efforts to achieve this goal,” said Chad R. Soukup, superintendent of engineering, Hormel Foods Austin Plant.
“The rebate check is just the beginning of the savings that Hormel Foods will see,” said Kelly Lady, Austin Utilities energy services consultant. “The company will see energy savings each year now that they have installed new state-of-the-art, energy-efficient technologies in their buildings”,
Austin Utilities’ Conserve & Save rebate program encourages the purchase and installation of new energy-efficient equipment in commercial and residential buildings. The rebates are available to help offset the higher initial costs associated with the purchase and installation of energy-efficient options. The Conserve & Save rebate program is available to both residential and commercial customers that make qualifying energy efficient upgrades. Qualifying upgrades include Energy Star® appliances, lighting, heating and cooling equipment, and building shell improvements. A complete list of qualifying purchases can be found on the Austin Utilities web site www.austinutilities.com.
About Austin Utilities
As the municipal utility of Austin, Minn., for more than 110 years, Austin Utilities provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 12,000 customers. Natural gas customers number more than 10,000. Austin Utilities continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive.
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