Lime Energy helps Frankston Packaging improve efficiency

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL, Oct. 6, 2009 (Globe Newswire) -

Lime Energy today announced the completion of energy efficiency improvements at Frankston Packaging Co., an independent folding carton converter in Frankston, Texas. The project is anticipated to return 100% of the net investment in the first year because of reduced electricity use, reduced maintenance expenses, accelerated depreciation tax treatment from EPAct, and a rebate from Oncor, the local electric utility.

"Aside from the financial benefit here, we now have much more uniform lighting throughout our operation," said Kyle Eldred, Frankston's President. "The old lighting gave us inconsistent brightness and color, and required us to inventory a number of light fixtures. The new lighting system is uniform throughout the plant and the warehouse, and requires us to inventory only one lighting product for maintenance. These lights also last about 3-1/2 times longer than the lights we used in the past."

The plant is located in northeastern Texas, about 100 miles from Dallas and in an area with relatively low electricity rates. In addition to reducing Frankston's fixed utility costs, the annual electricity savings is expected to provide the following environmental benefits each year:

-- 470,000 fewer pounds of Carbon Dioxide
- the leading cause of Global Warming
-- 1,800 fewer pounds of Sulfur Dioxide
- the leading cause of Acid Rain
-- 1,100 fewer pounds of Oxides of Nitrogen
- the leading cause of Smog and Acid Precipitation
-- The equivalent of 41 passenger cars removed from the road this year

Lime Energy also evaluated the facility's air conditioning, compressed air, and measures to improve the building envelope for the company. Frankston Packaging has steadily improved its operational efficiency over the years. "Including this project, we have invested $4 million since 2006 to improve our operations efficiency and increase our throughput by reducing set-up time and investing in faster technology," said Norm Bullock, Frankston Vice President of Operations. "Our business is healthier as a result of these investments because our energy use per unit of production is 21% lower than it was four years ago. With energy costs where they are and where they are going, efficiency is the key to success and our overall energy and operations strategy has really paid off."