Saukville – A leader in Wisconsin manufacturing was honored for being a pioneer in energy efficiency Monday when Charter Steel received an Energy Efficiency Excellence Award for the company’s continued commitment to energy management.
Working with We Energies and Focus on Energy staff, Charter Steel actively pursued energy efficiency in recent years, with at least 30 distinct projects implemented since 2015 at its facility in Saukville. Those projects were completed with Focus on Energy incentives totaling more than $163,000.
“Energy is a big part of the cost structure,” said Tari Emerson, Director of Energy at Charter Steel. “It’s important for us to be able to control energy and one of the ways that we do that is making sure that everyone in the company is aware of [their] energy use.”
In December 2017, Charter Steel in Saukville became the first steel mill in the country to achieve certification to the ISO 50001 International Standard for Energy Management Systems, the culmination of a 24-month certification process.
“We got a lot of help from Focus on Energy through their [Strategic Energy Management] program,” said Emerson. “They helped us with technical support… with advisors… with contractors, and just [by] being able to be there to help us step by step through the ISO [50001] certification process.”
“[ISO 50001] is a top bottom effort that they truly work on from senior leadership to the shop floor,” said Randy Jerome of We Energies. “[It puts] a system in place to continually monitor and track [energy use]… It’s really a culture that they’ll be able to carry with them forward so, no matter what person comes or goes, this organization has the wherewithal to continue.”
Charter Steel also won a 2017 U.S. Department of Energy Better Practice Award, and the company has major process upgrades scheduled for 2018 that are expected to save even more energy.
Wisconsin Public Service Commissioner Rich Zipperer presented the award to Charter Steel representatives.
Focus on Energy is working with utility companies across the state to present 16 Energy Efficiency Excellence Awards to outstanding businesses, schools and institutions.
A recent evaluation report found every $1 invested in Focus on Energy programs creates $5.93 in benefits for Wisconsin, including economic benefits, reduced energy costs, and reduced pollution.
About Focus on Energy
Focus on Energy is Wisconsin utilities' statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program funded by the state's investor-owned energy utilities and participating municipal and electric cooperative utilities. Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Focus on Energy information, resources and financial incentives help to implement projects that otherwise would not be completed. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control Wisconsin's growing demand for electricity and natural gas. For more information call 800.762.7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.
About Charter Steel
Charter Steel is a leading American supplier of carbon and alloy steel bar, rod and wire products with distribution and manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin and Ohio.
