U.S. CEEM Members in Action: Bob Bechtold of Harbec Plastics

Bob Bechtold is the president and founder of Harbec Plastics, Inc., a progressive injection molding company located in upstate New York, which provides a full service of model making, precision mold making, and complex precision plastic injection molding. During the past decade, Harbec has developed an energy management strategy that includes a cogeneration project, which currently provides a portion of their electricity, heat, and air-conditioning requirements. Harbec is one of the first companies in the world to successfully implement a completely micro-turbine powered combined heat and power plant.

During the same period, Harbec achieved ISO 9000 and QS 9000 certifications for quality control and assurance, as well as ISO 14000 certification, demonstrating its commitment to environmental responsibility.  Currently, Harbec is focused on achieving SEP certification by 2013 and has committed to be Carbon Neutral by 2013 and Water Neutral by 2015. Harbec became a member of U.S. CEEM in 2012.

Alliance: Harbec has a long history with energy efficiency. What initiated your efforts, and does Superior Energy Performance (SEP) align with these motivations? 

Bechtold: It is true that Harbec has been working on energy efficiency for a long time. It has always been something that interested me and in the late 90's we began to apply it where ever possible in our business. The basis of our energy management strategy is two part. We combine the efficiency of CHP [Combined Heat and Power] with the predictability of on-site renewable. Now we are learning to look for additional energy efficiencies in the manufacturing process and equipment with the help of SEP.

Alliance: How has your company benefitted from SEP and what advice would you have for other companies considering SEP certification?

Bechtold: SEP is teaching us the value of accurate measurement. In the past we have estimated our progress and it did not matter if we were precise because no one would hold us accountable. As we pursue the SEP certification we are learning how to establish a base line and accurately measure our progress with calibrated instrumentation. This is something that we always wished for but did not know exactly how to get it. We are also looking forward to the third party audit, as we do with all of our ISO certifications, to keep us constantly improving in the future.                

My advice to other companies who are considering ISO 50001 SEP is that they will gain the same opportunities for improvement that ISO 9000 and 14000 gave them, but this time instead of quality or environmental, it will help them improve their energy footprint. Getting control of their energy situations will help their bottom line with lower energy bills and it will help their top line by telling the world that they are a responsible corporate citizen who cares about the world they live and work in.

Alliance: You often use the term ‘eco-economics,’ referring to the idea that energy efficiency and your other sustainability efforts provide an economic advantage rather than a hindrance. Does your participation in SEP reflect this outlook?

Bechtold: The reason we are involved with the SEP is to learn additional measures and methods to reduce energy consumption. Every time we accomplish a reduction we are saving money because our energy bills are reduced. Initially we use the energy savings dollars to pay for the cost of the improvement project, but eventually it is paid off and the rest of the time going forward is an economic plus to our bottom line. With this said, we think the best way to promote environmental improvement is to show people a way to make or save money doing it.

Harbec also believes that this opportunity for improvement will never end. We have heard some companies express concern about being too energy efficient too quickly and running out of potentials for continuous improvement. One thing we are sure of is that this will never happen. The more companies enact energy efficiency project purchase decisions, the more the market is excited to produce improvements. Efforts like SEP help to insure this new market and technology enhancement by creating interest and activity from the potential customer base. With all this economic opportunity found in energy efficiency, who is the winner in the end…the environment of the future because there is less impact on the environment and less consumption of non-renewable resources.