Hiram – What began over a year ago as an exercise among a group of Mantaline’s managers and team members, quickly became an incredible new way to conduct business. The Mantua-based company designs, develops, and produces precision molded and extruded components for a variety of industrial markets. The goal of that initial meeting was to investigate ways the component manufacturer could Flourish, the aptly named program that prompted the meeting.
Through that initial meeting, the group reviewed the company’s production processes in order to determine which had the greatest environmental and financial impact. Honed down from the master list of potential ideas that began that day, a short list of projects was developed. That list was based on a series of factors including time frame of implementation, return on investment, and environmental benefits. A major lighting overhaul and water-conservation projects topped the short list of projects that would have the biggest impact in helping Mantaline Flourish.
“Flourish is a program aimed at improving sustainability while reducing overhead costs,” explained Mantaline CEO Mark Trushel. “Through Flourish, we’re looking to make better decisions about how we invest our resources, not only to improve the sustainability of our business, but for our people and our community, as well.”
As a part of those efforts, Mantaline began a mission to reduce kilowatt usage company-wide. The first project they targeted was a lighting overhaul at Mantaline’s Hiram, Ohio, Plastics Innovation Center facility. Through the use of an innovative funding opportunity provided by the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), Mantaline was able to replace the existing fluorescent fixtures with LEDs, and install motion-sensors to enhance the facility’s energy efficiency.
The project removed and recycled 500 fluorescent fixtures in the production, shipping, and first floor office spaces; replacing them with 86, energy-efficient LED fixtures and motion-sensors. It was financed by NOPEC, through a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)-backed loan. Simply put, Mantaline has received a ten-year, fixed interest loan that will be paid through a property tax assessment; as such, no additional capital was required.
We’re thrilled, and not just for the energy savings, “ explained David Little, Mantaline’s Head of Global Purchasing and Sustainability. ”Projects like these have a compounding effect: not only do they help us reduce what ends up in a landfill, they also help Mantaline reduce our carbon footprint, which reduces greenhouse gases that effect climate change.”
The combined energy savings and reduced maintenance costs will save the company an estimated $19,000 annually, equating to about a six-year payback on the investment. But the estimated payback may happen earlier than anticipated. The environmental benefits are impressive, as well. “Over the life of the fixtures, we will help save over 4,000,000 pounds of carbon from entering the environment,” beamed Little.
Fueled by the success of this initial program, the company has a goal to convert all four of its locations (in Mantua and Hiram, Ohio as well as San Antonio, Texas and Monterrey, Mexico) to 100% LED by 2020.
It’s important to note that the Mantaline Corporation was the first entity in Portage County to take advantage of NOPEC’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) energy efficiency financing. That said, other public and private sector commercial properties that are enrolled in NOPEC’s electric and gas aggregation programs are also eligible to take advantage of this unique financing tool, as well.
Soon, we’ll learn how Mantaline will Flourish with their water conservation efforts.
