JASPER, IN – At a time when energy conservation is emerging as an important global issue for all types of businesses and industries, Jasper Engines and Transmissions has been awarded an Environmental Stewardship Award for its conservation efforts.

The award was bestowed upon Jasper by Energy Management Systems Inc. (EMS) of Indianapolis, a leading provider of environmental control and monitoring systems.

“Over the last several years, we made several improvements to the plant. We have air conditioning within the plant, and we were getting close to maxing out our utility service at the plant,” said Mike Schwenk of Jasper Engines and Transmissions.

After conducting an energy audit in the Jasper facility, the results showed that Jasper Engines and Transmissions had poorly lit work areas and was wasting energy – which was not only bad for the company’s bank account, but also for the environment. Power plants burn fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) to generate electricity and these fossil fuels cause global warming, acid rain and smog.

Thus, Jasper Engines and Transmissions decided to improve on their lighting. Before the upgrade, the company was not maximizing its energy use in three ways – either by using old-style lights that used too much energy; inefficient lighting that was outputting half the light (compared to when they were new), and several low traffic areas that were constantly lit. 

With little effort, minimal investment and only six months work, EMS reshaped Jasper Engines and Transmissions into a more environmentally-friendly workplace, and Schwenk said that there “were some real savings. There’s no question about it.”

According to Schwenk, the new lighting has helped create greater employee satisfaction and better working conditions. Our associates are now using “good, crisp light and everybody was pleased with the lighting EMS put in place.”

Jasper Engines and Transmissions will save almost $96,000 or 68 percent annually, by using new lighting technology, motion sensors and by avoiding maintenance costs. And, Jasper will also help to save the world – in partnership with EMS– as they have reduced air pollution by more than two million pounds of CO2 per year, or the equivalent of taking 3,685 cars off the road over the next 20 years.

“We have a number of national accounts that are very concerned as to what initiatives we have taken to achieve greater energy savings,” said Schwenk. “This is one great example of what we’re doing in that regard.”

Jasper Engines and Transmissions is the nation's largest remanufacturer of gas and diesel engines, transmissions, differentials, rear axle assemblies, marine engines, stern drives, performance engines, and electric motors. For more information, call (800) 827-7455 or visit www.jasperengines.com.