Pictured from the left are Dr. Kathleen Hogan - Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency, Kenneth Kratz, Vice President Bracalente Manufacturing Group and Paul Scheihing - Acting Supervisor, Partnership Development & Deployment, Industrial Technology Program.

Bracalente Manufacturing Wins 2010 National Energy Award

Bracalente Manufacturing Group received an "Energy Champion Award" on December 9, 2010 in Washington D.C. from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) for achieving more than 15% in total energy savings and reporting the progress on schedule.

"Save Energy Now" is a national initiative to reduce industrial energy intensity 25 percent or more in 10 years. Energy Champions are making significant progress in implementing the energy savings opportunities identified through "Save Energy Now" energy assessments.

Through energy assessments, DOE's "Save Energy Now" helps plants quantify immediate opportunities for energy and cost savings. These assessments can help launch or expand a company's energy management strategy to help them continue to yield major bottom-line benefits throughout their company and put them on a path to energy savings.

To help identify Bracalente's energy efficiencies and savings, the Manufacturers Resource Center arranged for the company to have an energy assessment conducted by the Industrial Assessment Center of Lehigh University according to the DOE Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) guidelines. The energy team used DOE's tools to analyze energy use and help find ways to assess key industrial process systems and to identify energy and cost-saving opportunities.

According to the DOE, by implementing the recommended actions, Bracalente is contributing to reducing the nation's energy use. "We are extremely pleased to receive this award," said Ron Bracalente, President of Bracalente Manufacturing. "This process is helping us to develop and implement an efficient energy management program for our company."

Bracalente is one of 56 companies nationwide who received the award in 2010. The award is presented to companies that implement energy-saving technologies and practices identified through assessments to achieve a high level of energy efficiency.

Energy Champion plants saved more than 250,000 MMBtu or 15% of total energy use. Bracalente accomplished a 26% savings with energy saving improvements and demonstrated energy savings of 6,361 MMBtu's and savings of $43,331 annually. The company also improved their compressed air system, motors, heating and lighting..

Bracalente Manufacturing Group produces high-quality, precision machined parts and assemblies for the automotive, aerospace, medical, agricultural, recreational, electronics and industrial products industries.