ConAgra Foods' Lamb Weston operation, a leading producer of frozen and prepared potato and vegetable products for the foodservice and retail markets, is expected to save $174,966 per year in energy costs thanks to a lighting upgrade completed by SmartWatt Energy at its processing plant in Park Rapids, Minnesota.
As part of a company-wide strategy to reduce energy consumption and achieve Energy Star certification, ConAgra was interested in exploring potential lighting energy-savings opportunities. SmartWatt conducted a construction-grade energy audit of the facility, then engineered a plan to replace the plant's existing
1,266 Metal Halide and T-12 Fluorescent lighting fixtures. LED High Bays were installed throughout the plant's freezer warehouse, and T-8 Fluorescent lighting fixtures in processing, packaging, storage, office, maintenance and loading dock areas.
The new energy-efficient lighting will reduce the plant's energy consumption by more than 2,200,000 kWh per year. As part of their turnkey service, SmartWatt was also able to secure a utility incentive of $63,446, reducing ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston's payback period for the project to less than two years. The lighting upgrade is designed to remove pollutants from the air and is estimated to have the same effect on the environment as removing 3,441,615 pounds of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to planting 504 acres of trees or removing 325 vehicles from the road each year.
