March 20, 2007
New Bedford’s Crystal Ice Company has become the
latest local example of how to cut operating costs
through energy efficiency. In a move that will save the
company nearly half-a-million dollars a year, plant
management worked with NSTAR Electric to replace old,
inefficient ice-making equipment with modern,
computer-controlled units. Along with the annual
savings on Crystal Ice’s energy bills, NSTAR’s
Construction Solutions program helped to offset the
price of the new equipment by rebating nearly $700,000
of the upgrade cost.
“A business that takes advantage of our energy efficiency programs can greatly reduce its energy bills,” said NSTAR Vice President of Customer Care Penni Conner. “If that business uses large amounts of electricity to produce a product, like Crystal Ice, the savings potential is especially significant.”
“With the nature of our business, energy costs are our number one expense,” said Crystal Ice President Joe Swift. “We’re thrilled to have been able to work with NSTAR to dramatically lower those costs.”
Crystal Ice, a fixture on New Bedford’s waterfront for nearly 60 years, supplies over 50,000 tons of ice each year to the fishing industry and other local businesses. The operation is very energy intensive, using ice-making equipment and freezers 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. NSTAR estimates Crystal Ice will save nearly 3.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year through the increased efficiency of the plant’s equipment.
Working with NSTAR and the Construction Solutions program, Crystal Ice also installed a new ammonia refrigeration system to support the new ice-making equipment and existing freezers. A new conveyor system run by premium efficiency motors and drives was added to the plant and high efficiency lighting replaced inefficient fixtures in the company’s freezers.
NSTAR transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to 1.4 million customers in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, including over one million electric customers in 81 communities and nearly 300,000 gas customers in 51 communities.
