Dietz & Watson's commitment to a healthy environment has led the company to an "eco-upgrade" which uses solar power to cut energy costs by nearly 20 percent.
"Green" Projects
- Philadelphia plant changed the pasteurization system, saving over 1.5
Million kWh a year - Old incandescent lighting is being replaced with high efficiency fluorescent
lighting. Electricity use from plant lighting will be reduced by an estimated
40%. - Solar Panels cover the roof of the Delanco, NJ warehouse, reducing energy
use by nearly 20% - The Baltimore Plant saves nearly 800,000 kWh a year after updating to
fluorescent lighting
DIETZ & WATSON GOES EVEN GREENER BY ADDING SOLAR
COMPANY CELEBRATES EARTH DAY BY TAKING STEPS TO REDUCE ENERGY USE AT DELANCO DISTRIBUTION CENTER BY NEARLY 20 PERCENT
PHILADELPHIA (April 19, 2010) – For Dietz & Watson, its premium deli meats and artisan cheese business revolves around commitment to quality and purity. This Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, the company extended this commitment to the environment as its refrigerated Delanco,N.J., distribution center received an eco-friendly upgrade. The facility's roof became equipped with more than 7,000 solar power modules. Once installation was completed, the modules reduced the facility's energy use by nearly 20 percent.
"In addition to producing fresh, natural products, we value the health of our surroundings and environment," said Louis Eni, President and CEO of Dietz & Watson. "If we can improve the world in which we live and work, we will. That is why we have taken a step in the right direction and made the decision for our Delanco facility to go solar."
On Earth Day, crews from electrical contracting company Absolutely Energized Solar began the primary phase of lifting solar modules onto the facility's rooftop. A 300-ton crane did the heavy lifting of more than 7,000 modules, each approximately5.5'x3.25'in size. These modules eventually covered the roof. The addition of the solar energy system will help offset over 1,600 tons of harmful greenhouse gas emissions each year. The system will also help to reduce overall demand on the local electrical distribution network which in turn helps the local utility company to reduce price increases and provide more reliable peak electric supply.
"We are proud to bring our energy and money-saving technology to Dietz & Watson, a great local business, on Earth Day," said Absolutely Energized Solar President Dan Lichtman. "This solar upgrade will financially and environmentally benefit Dietz & Watson, Delanco and the surrounding community."
The new solar energy system is the most recent effort made by Dietz & Watson to reduce its ecological footprint. Dietz & Watson's boxes are now marked with SFI stamps, signifying the boxes are Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified and are produced using the highest environmental standards throughout the entire process, from the growing of the trees to the paper manufacturing. Also, Dietz & Watson's Baltimorepoultry facility just received an upgrade of its own. The facility's entire lighting system was replaced with T5 technology, the most energy efficient fluorescent lighting available.
"This upgrade isn't our first and it won't be our last," said Eni. "We're proud to celebrate Earth Day by improving our company's future and our planet's future."
ABOUT ABSOLUTELY ENERGIZED SOLAR
Absolutely Energized Solar is a licensed electrical contracting company devoted solely to installing renewable energy systems. In the last eight years, the company has recruited and trained one of the most talented and experienced teams of renewable energy experts in the country. Absolutely Energized Solar's portfolio of completed projects now includes hundreds of residential systems and dozens of large commercial projects including some of the largest solar systems on the east coast. Using highly trained in-house crews, Absolutely Energized Solar installs solar systems that will reliably produce exceptional owner payback for decades to come. The company president, Dan Lichtman, is an honored member of the NABCEP (National Association of Board Certified Energy Practitioners) PV Technical Advisory Committee. For more information, visit www.AESolar.com.
ABOUT DIETZ & WATSON – Dietz & Watson was founded in 1939 by Gottlieb Dietz, a talented young German sausage maker. His primary goal was to produce the most flavorful, highest quality deli meats in the marketplace, to please even the most discriminating palate. His old-world recipes and commitment to "quality above all" demanded nothing less than the freshest lean beef, ham, pork turkey breast and chicken breast and only the freshest, all-natural spices and seasonings. Dietz & Watson never uses artificial flavors, colors, fillers or extenders, and never any MSG. Today, from their headquarters in Philadelphia, the third generation of the family continues Gottlieb Dietz's dedication and commitment in preparing Premium Deli Meats and Artisan Cheeses. They are the grandchildren of company founder Gottlieb Dietz – Louis Eni (President and CEO), Chris Eni (COO) and Cindy Eni Yingling (CFO)
For more information please contact Steve Riley, Director of Marketing at Dietz & Watson, sriley@dietzandwatson.com