Heartland rewarded for energy-efficiency efforts

The energy-efficient interior lighting that has helped Heartland Automotive earn a $79,775 rebate from Energizing Indiana and Duke Energy is visible behind (from left) Heartland Business Project Manager Ritsuko Murakami Abrams, Duke Energy account manager Jeff Honaker, Heartland Vice President of Operations Ronan Miot and Energizing Indiana Trade Ally Coordinator Matt Itce.

Ever focused on a brighter future, Heartland Automotive saw its efforts literally pay off Thursday with a lottery-sized rebate check.

Officials from Energizing Indiana and Duke Energy presented the rebate check at the company's plant on Greencastle's East Side.

Thanks to lighting and HVAC system improvements put in place to reduce energy use at its facilities, Heartland has earned a $79,775 rebate check that was presented by Matt Itce, trade alley coordinator for Energizing Indiana, and Jeff Honaker, Duke Energy account manager.

Itce said the Heartland rebate is one the largest earned in the state this year, noting that he actually has given out six-figure rebates to bigger companies around central Indiana.

Heartland President Toshio Kawashima, Business Project Manager Ritsuko Murakami Abrams and Vice President of Operations Ronan Miot were on hand Thursday to accept the check in a brief ceremony at the company's 300 S. 10th St. (Warren Drive) facility.

Once known as the Ryan Building, the plant was built originally in the less-than-energy-conscious early 1970s as a new home for the old Angwell Curtain Factory. It was owned by IBM Corp. when Shigeru Industries purchased the site to become the American headquarters of Heartland Automotive in 1987.

Much has changed in the intervening 26 years. And after multiple expansions to the both the physical structure and the workforce, Heartland now employs 500 people at what has become a 355,000-square-foot facility and a model of energy efficiency.

While changes to the building design have been the most noticeable, alterations to the lighting and energy use within the facility have had a positive effect as well.

Heartland replaced 1,000 points of light in the project that began in 2012, Abrams explained during a tour of the facility.

"Compared to before, it is much brighter now," she said.

The old metal halide lighting/mercury vapor lamps that once illuminated the production area have been replaced by high-output and energy-efficient T5 fixtures, Duke Energy's Honaker noted.

A monetary impact estimated at $82,000 has been realized by changes to nearly 1,300 T8 and T5 energy-efficient lighting fixtures, 45 occupancy sensors, new outdoor LED lighting and the HVAC system the company installed.

Those changes also constitute an annual energy savings of 916,145 kilowatts, Energizing Indiana information noted.

Miot said the $79,775 rebate check deposited in Heartland's hands Thursday most likely will be used for further efficiency improvements and future projects.

He pointed out that the project has resulted in more than just energy savings and a fat rebate check.

"It's a good project overall," Miot said. "It was also very good for the morale of our team members. Better lighting lets them see better, and even feel a little better."

Consequently, a better work environment created through improved lighting has indirectly produced positive results in both quality -- as Heartland workers "see the parts better," Miot noted -- and employee engagement.

Heartland Automotive, which also operates a new facility in Lafayette, is a manufacturer of interior and exterior automotive parts for companies such as Subaru and Toyota. Attention to quality detail has been its hallmark in maintaining relationships and contracts with the automakers.

"Duke Energy is extremely pleased to recognize the efforts of Heartland Automotive," Honaker noted. "Taking steps to reduce energy use is important to our community and must be a priority for all of us.

"Heartland is a shining example of the benefits business and industries can gain by participating in energy-efficiency programs," he added. "We applaud them for leading the way."

Accepting a lottery-size rebate check Thursday in the amount of $79,755 for Heartland Automotive's recent energy-efficiency efforts are Company President Toshio Kawashima (second from right), Vice President of Operations Ronan Miot (right) and Business Project Manager Ritsuko Murakami Abrams. Making the presentation outside the Greencastle plant are Jeff Honaker of Duke Energy (center) and Matt Itce (left) of Energizing Indiana.

Honaker said the great majority of Heartland energy-efficient efforts have been expended in Greencastle, although the Lafayette facility has been involved as well.

Meanwhile, other Hoosier facility managers and business owners have the potential to achieve cost-effective energy savings with the help of significant rebates from Energizing Indiana, officials said.

Duke Energy's Smart Saver Program also provides rebates for installing high-efficiency lighting, HVAC, pumps and other qualifying equipment. The use of energy-efficient equipment can help organizations improve their bottom line by reducing energy consumption.

Energizing Indiana's Commercial and Industrial Prescriptive Rebate Program provides Hoosier businesses with resources to improve the efficiency of their facilities. A prescriptive rebate structure provides rebates based on the installation of energy-efficiency equipment and system improvements.

Upgrades can include lighting, variable frequency drives, HVAC and efficient Energy Star commercial kitchen appliances.

Energizing Indiana programs are funded by utility rates, and there are no separate fees to participate.

Energizing Indiana is a united effort by the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, participating utilities and consumer organizations to offer comprehensive statewide energy efficiency programs.

The Energizing Indiana initiative began Jan. 2, 2012, and was created to help utilities achieve the significant energy savings required by an Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission order.