Testimonials

	Toro Reaps Savings Guarantee
Scott Vollmer - Environmental/Project Manager
In 2001, The Toro Company, a leading provider of outdoor maintenance and beautification products for home, recreation and commercial landscapes, completed a base load energy reduction project at two of its largest company-owned facilities. According to Scott Vollmer, Environmental/Project Engineer, Toro Commercial Division, "This energy-efficient Orion project fits in well with other environmentally responsible efforts adopted by Toro." Toro works very closely with the City of Tomah Water Department along with local gas and electrical utilities to monitor all areas of industrial waste and energy consumption. "When discussing this second project with Toro officials, I pointed out that 50 percent of the Toro total electric bills for the Tomah facility are for lighting, which is a fact that astonishes most facility managers," stated Neal Verfuerth, President and CEO of Orion Energy Systems. At the Tomah plant, Toro employs between 450 and 600 people depending on peak production needs. In particular, Toro key processes are welding, painting and assembly, each of which will allow Toro to derive additional benefit from the project. "The fact that Orion will save Toro over $80,000 per year and still have such a positive environmental impact by cutting our electricity consumption by 1.7 million kilowatts was also an important part of our decision." said Don Yahnke, Toro Director of Operations for Tomah. "Equally important to us were the intangible benefits from Orion such as more than 50 percent better lighting, better worker safety, 50 percent less ongoing maintenance and, finally, creating more available electricity for the Tomah community."

	Charter Steel's Competitive Advantage and Environmental Stewardship
Ken Hoopman - Rolling Mill Electrical Coordinator
A division of Charter Manufacturing Company, a supplier of quality steel bar, rod and wire products, Charter Steel completed a major base load energy efficiency project at its Saukville, Wisconsin, manufacturing plant. Charter Steel is saving more than 1.9 million kWh per year. Additionally, the project is helping reduce Charter Steel's electrical needs by more than 215 kW, which is enough electricity to power 190 homes. Along with the energy savings comes environmental savings of roughly 6,972 acres of trees, 3.45 million gallons of gasoline and other positive impacts based on the energy saved through the project, according to EPA formula estimates. "We believe this is a great addition to our Charter Steel Plant and helps continue Charter's commitment to environmentally sound policies, said Ken Hoopman, Rolling Mill Electrical Coordinator. "We now have more and better light for our employees, who have reacted very favorably to the energy-efficient lighting project. We are showing large cost savings, because we are using 1.9 million fewer kilowatt hours annually."