The Need
Kurtz Bros. is a school supply company located in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, that manufactures paper products. The site is heated by two coal-fired burners, and the company wanted to reduce the energy costs caused by rising coal prices and minimize wasted energy.
The PennTAP Connection
Two PennTAP technical advisors and a group of Penn State’s senior engineering students visited the facility to collect data and assess potential heating and lighting energy upgrade opportunities.
The Project
PennTAP used infrared (IR) cameras to assess areas of heat loss at the site. During the review of the site, PennTAP evaluated short-term opportunities to minimize coal usage, while also working on a longer-term plan to replace the coal-fired boilers with natural gas heaters. The short term plan included adding insulating curtains to the building, insulating windows, and upgrading the control system.
The Outcome
PennTAP helped Kurtz Bros. realize a total short-term annual savings of $12,000, based on an annual savings of $5,800 and $6,200 for insulation and controlled heating, respectively, with a simple payback period of 1.1 years. In addition to this, PennTAP identified the long-term annual savings of $86,500 by upgrading to natural gas IR heaters with a payback period of 1.6 years. PennTAP plans to assist the company with a grant application of $35,500 through United States Department of Agriculture and Rural Energy for America Program which would reduce the long-term payback period to just 1.24 years.
About the Company
Kurtz Bros.
400 Reed St.
Clearfield PA 16830
County: Clearfield
Employees: 95
Industry: School supply manufacturer