RICHMOND, Ind. — Johns Manville (JM) has earned a significant rebate check from Energizing Indiana, Richmond Power & Light (RP&L) and the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA) for energy-efficient improvements to its Richmond Insulation Systems facility. Through its participation in Energizing Indiana’s Commercial & Industrial Prescriptive Rebate Program, Johns Manville received a $68,554 rebate for implementing energy-efficient lighting improvements designed to help the facility reduce its energy usage and promote cost savings as well. The rebate is the largest issued thus far to any of IMPA’s 59 member communities involved in the Energizing Indiana program. The retrofit project cut the facility’s lighting-energy consumption by approximately 80 percent and reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4 million pounds of carbon dioxide, more than 20,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and approximately 5,000 pounds of nitrogen oxide a year. 

Johns Manville retrofitted lighting throughout its entire facility, including manufacturing, warehouse operations, all office spaces and the exterior of the building. The project replaced high-bay fixtures with T5HO linear fluorescent lights equipped with in-line quick connect devices that allow for quick fixture removal without disrupting operations.

Individual occupancy controls were installed throughout the retrofit, with a few exceptions, to automatically turn the fixtures off when the space is not occupied. In areas of abundant natural light, a combination of ambient light and occupancy sensor controls turn the primary fixtures off when natural light is present or no occupancy is detected. 

In the office and basement areas, and for task lighting, T-12 lamp and ballast systems were retrofitted with T-8 kits or replaced with T-5 fixtures. A range of controls including individual fixture occupancy sensors, wall switch mounted occupancy sensors for select private offices, or area sensors for common office areas were also installed. Incandescent exit signs were also replaced with new LED signs.

Zane Carpenter, manager of energy engineering for JM, said that the project is a good example of JM’s commitment to sustainability. “This retrofit project provides a reduction in energy usage that helps the utility curtail the need to add capacity to the grid,” he said. “It helps reduce greenhouse gas emission derived from electricity production. It helps the community by injecting money into the economy and putting people to work, including the lighting designers, manufacturers and local contractors. And it helps the business maintain a healthy bottom line by reducing overall operating costs. It’s really a win for the company, the community, the utility and the environment."

IMPA President and CEO Raj Rao congratulated Johns Manville not only on its commitment to reducing energy use, but also for the example the company has set for Richmond. “IMPA, along with our partners at Energizing Indiana and Richmond Power & Light, are very pleased to recognize the efforts of Johns Manville,” he said. “Their commitment to reducing energy sets an example that we all can follow and highlights how energy efficiency should be a priority for all of us.”

JM's Richmond Plant Manager Joe Ehrenreich said JM was pleased to partner with IMPA to reduce the plant’s lighting electrical usage by approximately 80 percent. “Because we produce energy-saving products at our Richmond facility, it only makes sense that we’d want to reduce energy usage, as well as our carbon footprint here,” he said.

For more information, visit www.jm.com.