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). In 2010, HARBEC installed a second (850 kW) wind turbine. Combined, these enable HARBEC to produce about 60% of its current electrical needs from a renewable energy source.
Utility Connection to Green Power
100% of the electricity HARBEC purchases from the utility is green power. We are proud to be US EPA Green Power Partners.
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 second total building lighting system upgrade converting 1,000 high-efficiency bulbs to LED which will reduce the amount of energy used by 45%. 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 LED 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:
- Tree planting
- Renewable energy
- Energy conservation
- Methane capture offsets
Co-Generation | Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
HARBEC uses Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to run its 18 Capstone microturbine generators which produce the electricity used to operate our molding company. The hot exhaust from these microturbines 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.