Every Day Is Earth Day At HARBEC

The HARBEC journey to eco-economic sustainability came about from the personal desire of its owner to be environmentally responsible. After a number of years of failure to make progress in funding projects due to the unspoken, but eventually obvious, opinions held by most contemporary business people and lending institutions, a new plan needed to be implemented. This new strategy would have to overcome the preconceived notion that environmentalists were ‘tree-huggers’ or ‘burned-out Hippies’, but not serious, competent business people.

In order to circumvent this stereotype, a plan was developed to redefine every thought, goal and resulting project idea, only from its economic value perspective. The other e word (environmental) while still the driving force, would not be mentioned again. This change was more than a decade ago, before we had any eco-economic successes to report and before sustainability and eco-economics were the topics of major institutional and business conferences.

Environmental Impacts: Everything we do has an impact on our environment. These impacts can be classified as either resource consumption or pollution but are very interrelated. Environmentally responsible manufacturers find ways to reduce their impact on the environment. Often a single solution will have a positive effect on several aspects. The goal is to manage manufacturing processes to conserve resources and prevent pollution.

Environmental Management: The ISO 14000 Environmental Management System provides a model for businesses and organizations to incorporate good environmental practices into their daily operations. For HARBEC, the integration of ISO 9000:2000 and ISO 14000 is an ideal business planning strategy, incorporating quality, financial, and environmental responsibility. We believe this combination will insure future success for organizations.

Eco-economics: Reluctance of manufacturers to be environmentally proactive is misguided. Environmental management is economically good business: good for the bottom line as well as for the earth. Many environmental efforts require little or no costs to initiate and have immediate paybacks, such as preventive maintenance, recycling and energy conservation. Some environmental programs require more capital to implement, but long term, will not only recoup the initial costs, but may make the business more competitive than those businesses who are burdened with poor environmental management costs. As resources dwindle, costs will soar, inhibiting affordable manufacturing unless alternative resources are found.

Sustainability: Regardless of economics, there will be no more resources if we do not conserve and preserve. Individuals, businesses, and governments alike, must provide for our current needs in ways that do not negatively impact the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Efficient energy usage through cogeneration: The co-generation process produces both electricity and heat (hot water or steam) at the same time. It is much more efficient than a single-purpose generating system because it extracts much more usable energy from the same fuel.

HARBEC’s Co-generation operation produces less than 10% of the CO2 emissions that the most efficient oil or coal burning utilities produce to manufacture the same amount of energy. Heat and Air Conditioning are free by-products of the process.

HARBEC regards eco-economic sustainability as absolutely critical to the future of our business, and we believe that our success in the pursuit of it, will improve our competitive advantage by insuring our efficiency.

Sustainability can be a cost effective opportunity for business today…which insures a viable and comparable world to live in for future generations

Renewable Energy Generation: HARBEC. has installed a 250 kW Fuhrlander Wind Turbine. The addition of this generator produces about 25% of the current electrical needs from a renewable energy source. The economics of this improvement allow the company the unique ability to predict energy costs in the future. Insuring the ability to control a significant portion of operating expense helps insure a competitive edge. HARBEC is reducing its dependence on limited fossil fuels and toxic nuclear fuels. An additional economic outcome of this is that, as utility electric costs rise in the future, HARBEC’s ROI on this equipment is shortened, due to the increased value of what they are displacing. The environmental advantage of this is that every year, 375 tons of CO2 emissions are not put into the atmosphere.

Resource Conservation and Pollution Prevention through Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: There are several alternatives to gas powered vehicles. HARBEC’s Geo Prism is electric (all battery) powered, produces zero emissions and has an average driving range of 40 to 50 miles between recharges. HARBEC has 2 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles that run on gas, but with battery assist, the fuel consumption is very efficient (45-52 mpg) and they produce one-tenth the emissions of an equal sized standard gas vehicle. In addition, a CNG alt-fuel delivery van brings the fleet total to 80% green vehicles.

Resource Conservation through Sustainable Architecture & Construction: HARBEC recently completed building a “green” warehouse at its manufacturing facility, following the guidelines provided by LEED^TM for sustainable building and architecture. The structure has two times the insulation required by building codes and the exhaust of the micro-turbines supplies the radiant heat in the floor. The building uses daylight gathering to light the interior, switching to electric lights only when a photoelectric device senses a significant decrease in light.

Green building practices offer an opportunity to create environmentally sound and resource-efficient buildings by using an integrated approach to design. Green buildings promote resource conservation, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation features; consider environmental impacts and waste minimization; create a healthy and comfortable environment; reduce operation and maintain costs; and address issues such as historical preservation, access to public transportation and other community infrastructure systems. The entire life cycle of the building and its components is considered, as well as the economic and environmental impact and performance.

Resource Conservation and Pollution Prevention through Recycling: Reusing waste products reduces the need (and cost) for new materials and reduces the amount of waste (and cost) going into landfills. HARBEC tracks its waste and continually looks for ways to reduce or eliminate it. Scrap plastic is HARBEC’s largest waste product, yet most of it has been kept from going into landfills by re-using it or selling it to re-processors such as Ultimate Recycled Plastics in Palmyra, NY. This company manufactures “black” plastic lumber, which is utilitarian boards used in place of lower grade lumber.

Eco-economics strategies in the HARBEC Future: HARBEC uses an Eco-economic value system- always finding new opportunities to apply this way of thinking to improving business operations.One way is by replacing hydraulic molding machines with all-electric, which can do the same job while consuming up to 50% less energy. Conventional chemical based, closed-loop, water-treatment for mold cooling has been replaced with a completely chemical free, electrostatic alternative known as TowerKlean. Currently a project is underway to control and condition the storm water from the buildings and parking areas. This water will be collected in a pond, which will then provide a source for the evaporative cooling system make-up water, fire sprinkler system, and employee enjoyment. HARBEC Plastics, Inc was proud to be one of 17 businesses, across the USA, to receive the EPA’s 2002 Energy Star, Small Business Award. ENERGY STAR for small business salutes the Small Businesses across the country who are practicing exemplary energy efficiency that translates into real dollar savings and prevents pollution.