Green Molder

Harbec endeavors to be a sustainable company

HARBEC cares about the environment and it’s reflected in everything we do. By combining energy efficient equipment with on-site green energy sources, we reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, minimize our carbon footprint and lower our environmental impact on our natural resources such as water, land and air.

We foster a mentality of sustainability that permeates our corporate culture. With any project or new initiative, our employees ask themselves, “How does this impact the environment?” As a team, we have a proactive awareness, and personal responsibility, for protecting the environment. As a result, we have developed many ingenious solutions to conserving water, reusing scrap, and eliminating pollutants.

Over the past few decades, we have taken many strides to evolve into one of the most environmentally friendly manufacturing firms—not only in the country but worldwide. As every member of HARBEC agrees, we will meet today’s needs without compromising those of future generations. And we invest responsibly to stand behind this commitment—because we take the welfare of our global community seriously.

HARBEC is striving to be a “Carbon Neutral” company

HARBEC has a goal of “no carbon footprint by 2013.”

In an attempt to move beyond the lack of common understanding of what “being green” means from one company to another, HARBEC is currently assessing its Carbon Foot Print in order to become a Carbon Neutral manufacturing company. We can show you the benefits of choosing HARBEC and the positive impact it has on the environment.

What does carbon neutral mean to us? Basically, we don't want our energy use to add greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. After we have tried every way possible to do everything possible to remove or omit it directly ourselves, we'll take out the same amount somewhere else by purchasing carbon credits towards renewable energy, energy efficiency or from environmental projects like reforestation

• Equipment Read Close

  Energy efficient equipment
  In addition to the reduced noise levels, HARBEC’s transition from hydraulic molding machines to all electric presses has lowered energy costs up to 50% and has increased processing speed and cycle time. Where we used to produce buckets of start-up parts to achieve process accuracy, repeatability and predictability, we can now get there in only a few parts. And we don’t waste energy in the process.

  100% green fleet
  Super, ultra-low emissions are our “driving” force – pun intended. Our company-owned vehicles include hybrids, all electric (with zero emissions), and those that run on bio-diesel. Our bio-diesel delivery truck alone reduces emissions by 50-90% over regular diesel.

  HARBEC has a hybrid diesel truck along with 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. We have recently added a Chevy Volt which is battery powered with gasoline backup.

  
   

• Energy Read Close

  On-site renewable energy source
  In 2002, HARBEC installed a wind turbine to provide a clean, sustainable and renewable energy source: wind (which, in Upstate NY, is in abundant supply). This enables HARBEC to produce about 25% of its current electrical needs from a renewable energy source.

  Utility Connection to Green Power
  All of the electricity HARBEC purchases from the utility is green power
  
  Our future: 100% green power
  HARBEC is currently undertaking a test to convert two of our turbines from natural gas to liquid fuel. Given that bio-diesel is a renewable fuel that is the result of photosynthesis, this would be a “net zero” environmental contribution. As such, it may lead us to 100% green power with a small additional investment.
  
  Our desire: 100% plastic conversion
  At the heart of HARBEC is one key question that should be posed to all manufacturers: Why use metals when you don’t have to? If you haven’t converted to plastic yet, please speak to us. We can help
  
  Lighting the way to lower energy use
  Recently HARBEC completed a total building lighting system upgrade (i.e., high efficiency fixtures, ballasts and sensors) which will reduce the amount of energy used by nearly 50%. This means half as much greenhouse gas is generated while our bill is reduced proportionally.
  
  CO2 Offsetting
  We can lower the CO2 emissions we are responsible for by doing things like driving less, recycling, using renewable energy, and buying products like compact fluorescent bulbs. However, it is virtually impossible to reduce our CO2 output to 0. That’s where “carbon offsetting” comes in. Offsetting allows an individual, business, or organization to lower CO2 emissions in another location by an amount equivalent to those in which we create. How is this possible? Organizations sell carbon offsets and use the proceeds to support high-quality renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reforestation projects, which all result in lowering CO2 emissions in other locations. Carbon offsetting is the act of mitigating ("offsetting") greenhouse gas emissions.
  
  Some carbon offset methods-HARBEC is striving to be carbon neutral
  * Tree planting
  * Renewable energy
  * Energy conservation
  * Methane capture offsets

  
  Co-Generation | Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
  HARBEC uses Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to run Capstone micro turbine generators which produce the electricity used to operate our molding company. The hot exhaust from these micro turbines is directed to a heat exchanger which, in turn, transfers the heat to water. The hot water is then used to heat the building through radiant in-floor heating systems and pre-existing forced air systems. During the summer, the hot water is sent to an absorptive chiller, which uses heat to create cold water for air-conditioning. 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.
  
   

• Recycling Read Close

  Water conservation and re-use
  HARBEC saves over one million gallons of water per year by utilizing an 800K gallon reservoir to capture and hold rain water. This system uses thermal mass to temper heated process waste water, (i.e., dissipate the heat) prior to sending it to our cooling tower, which reduces the energy required for total cooling requirements.
  
  In addition, at HARBEC, 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

  Ecostones™: the HARBEC remediation alternative
  HARBEC developed a unique jack-shaped product made of scrap plastic materials that has twice the surface area and twice the voids of dolomite. While HARBEC employs a typical cattail filtration system to remediate parking lot runoff (i.e., pollutants such as salt and oil), the cattail roots, and associated, microorganisms live in the vast surface areas and voids of the Ecostones, instead of soil. The efficiency of these HARBEC Ecostones has been proven by A/B tests of side-by-side dolomite vs. Ecostone for water purification in ponds.

  Reusing waste
  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 are utilitarian boards used in place of lower grade lumber.

  In addition, HARBEC strives to assemble products for firms who are interested in reusable packaging to minimize landfill waste. Consistent with HARBEC’s environmental policies, we all benefit when quality corrugated materials are reused and retired only when the cardboard is exhausted.

• Innovation Read Close

  HARBEC is extremely proud to have received the 2011 “MEP Excellence in Sustainability Award” from NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, at their annual Manufacturing Innovations Conference in Orlando, Florida.

  The Excellence in Sustainability Award recognizes and celebrates manufacturers whose outstanding development and implementation of green/sustainable practices has contributed significantly to their business results, workplace and community. The award supports the MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) mission in strengthening the systems and processes of U.S. manufacturers to make them more profitable and competitive.

  Almost a decade ago, HARBEC was one of 17 businesses, across the USA, to receive the EPA’s 2002 Energy Star Small Business Award. ENERGY STAR salutes the small businesses across the country that practice exemplary energy efficiency which translates into real dollar savings and prevents pollution.

• Environmental Management Read Close

  The ISO 14001:2004 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 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 is an ideal business planning strategy, incorporating quality, financial, and environmental responsibility. We believe this combination will ensure future success for organizations.

  HARBEC is in the process of becoming one of the first companies worldwide to obtain ISO 50001, the international standard for energy management.

• Sustainable Building Design Read Close

  HARBEC recently completed building a “green” warehouse at its manufacturing facility, following the guidelines provided by LEED™ 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: using natural light resources to replace electric lighting during daylight hours and switching to electric lights only when a photoelectric device senses a significant decrease in light
  • Double insulated walls and roof
  • In-floor radiant heating

  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.
   

• HARBEC’s Future Efforts Read Close

  Additional future potentials being considered or implemented include biodiesel fuel production, aquaponics, wood or crop drying, ice and snow management, community heating etc. as added opportunities for using additional thermal resources that are currently being wasted. Through resourcefulness and proper prioritizing we hope these and others not yet realized will help us continue to grow our business while reducing our environmental footprint