Chrysler plant in Illinois receives US$1.3M rebate for energy efficiency
by Cleantech Canada Staff
Belvidere Assembly Plant near Chicago received rebate from natural gas provider
BELVIDERE, Ill.—A Chrysler plant near Chicago has received a fat rebate cheque from its utility provider for saving about 250 million cubic feet of natural gas annually.
According to the automaker, its Belvidere Assembly Plant, about 100 kilometres northwest of Chicago, received the US$1.3-million rebate from Nicor, Inc. subsidiary Nicor Gas for the savings achieved after implementing a trio of energy efficiency projects last year.
The rebate is the largest ever awarded under Nicor’s energy efficiency program.
Implemented in 2013, the projects at the plant included a recycled air installation that reuses heated air to supplement outside air to warm the facility, the installation of 34 variable frequency drive motors on direct gas-fired air handling units and new hardware and software for air supply control.
Chrysler said the three projects provide combined savings equivalent to the energy used in 1,000 homes.
The plant has also improved its environmental performance in other areas, including a 12.7 per cent reduction in water use, a 5.6 per cent reduction in waste generation and a 9.5 per cent reduction in total energy consumption, which includes natural gas and electricity.
The plant is home to the Dodge Dart compact sedan and Jeep Compass and Patriot sport utilities and employs nearly 4,500 people.
In 2013, the plant built more than 325,000 vehicles.
