Thanks to a lighting improvement project employees at Toledo Molding and Die Inc. in Bowling Green are
getting a better look at their work and their bosses are happier when they open the electric bill.
Management of the East Gypsy Road plant was honored Friday as the first firm to complete an Efficiency
Smart program through American Municipal Power Inc., Bowling Green’s wholesale power supplier.
BG is one of 47 AMP members taking part in the program that rewards both large and small power customers
for reducing power consumption.
"We appreciate the recognition,’ said John T. Haan, maintenance and facilities manager for Toledo
Molding and Die. "We saw a need and this (program) allowed us to do something about it. We save
money and meet an environmental goal."
Plant Manager Thomas Miller Jr. said the better lighting is a key to maintaining quality control in the
competitive auto parts manufacturing business. "We use a difficult blow molding process that
requires lots of visual inspection. Lighting is very important."
The firm worked with JS Lighting Solutions LLC of Bowling Green to design and install the lighting in the
118,000 square-foot plant. "Jan Snyder worked well with us and in a timely manner," Hann said.
Existing 1000 watt and 400 watt metal halide high bay fixtures were replaced by linear fluorescent
4-lamp T5 fixtures.
Kristyn Wilder, vice president of business energy services for Efficiency Smart, said the plant will save
an estimated 673,000 kilowatt hours per year in energy consumption, which translates to about $50,000.
Payback on the investment is expected within a year.
Bowling Green Director of Utilities Kevin Maynard said the city has a goal of saving 6 million kilowatt
hours of electricity in the next three years through Efficiency Smart. That amounts to about 1.3 percent
of the city’s electrical load.
"This has a good net return to our customers and helps us be as environmentally-friendly as
possible," Maynard said.
Efficiency Smart also offers rebates for energy-efficient appliances and lighting, financial rebates for
free removal of old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers from homes, and rebates for over 70 energy
efficient products and services for businesses. AMP has contracted with Vermont Energy Investment Corp.
to oversee the program.
Also available are account management services and customized incentives for large commercial and
industrial customers.
Other Wood County AMP member communities participating in the program are Bradner, Custar, Haskins and
Pemberville.
Maynard said an information sheet will be included in a BG utility bill mailing this spring. Information
is also available at www.efficiencysmart.org