HARBEC: Energy performance

Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge partners strive to decrease source energy use intensity (EUI), and to increase the percent improvement compared to a set baseline year.  Harbec's portfolio consists of 1 plant as of 2015. Harbec's energy management program emphasizes using the most efficient equipment possible and also using renewable wind energy.  With an energy intensity improvement of 30.5% since its baseline year of 2010, HARBEC has surpassed its 25% reduction in energy intensity target by 2021.

Harbec produces injection molded parts and calculates energy intensity in terms of source energy consumed (in MMBtus) normalized for cooling degree days, production and wind speed.  HARBEC uses the same methodology for Better Plants as for Superior Energy Performance, where they were recently certified at the platinum level.

Better Plants Water Savings partners strive to decrease water use intensity (WUI) compared to a set baseline.  HARBEC showed a significant water use intensity improvement of 45% in 2015 and 49% cumulatively relative to its 2013 baseline of potable water used for process needs.  As a result, HARBEC is almost half way towards its target to eliminate use of potable water for process uses.  HARBEC will continue to purchase potable water for employee uses (e.g. drinking and hand washing).  HARBEC's improvement has been enabled by constructing a water pond to capture rainwater which it uses for process needs to reduce use of purchased potable water from the municipal utility.