Maybe it's because we enjoy breaks and picnic lunches in the park-like area surrounding our headquarters in Temecula, California.
Maybe it's because some of Opto 22's best customers and integrators focus on conserving energy and finding solutions to environmental problems.
Or maybe it's because our own employees set an example by recycling and bicycling to work.
Whatever the reason, Opto 22 as a company has become increasingly aware of our impact on the environment and our responsibility to lessen that impact through conservation, recycling, and sustainability.
Over the years we've changed to recyclable packaging for our products and increased our own recycling of materials in our factory. We've also taken additional steps.
Using Our Own Products for Energy Management
Summers in Temecula are hot, and during the day the temperature can exceed 100 deg. F (38 deg. C). In June 2006, we decided to combat another scorching summer with some major changes designed to reduce our energy and water consumption while still staying cool and keeping our park green.
Our local electricity provider already uses some renewable resources—such as geothermal and wind—to produce the electricity we use. Using our own control and monitoring products, we made irrigation and HVAC systems more efficient, maximized the use of natural sunlight for lighting, and minimized heat absorption through roof and windows.
Over the following 12 months, we reduced overall power consumption by nearly 30%.
Green Power for Our Customers
We're also delighted to help several Opto 22 customers focus on using alternative energy and reducing their energy consumption. Here are a few:
- New Belgium Brewery—Watch the New Belgium Brewery video case study. Engineer Igor Valuyev explains how NBB produces great "green" beer.
- Verizon Communications—Read the Verizon Case Study (PDF), which describes cogeneration system monitoring and energy management.
- Sotavento Power Plant in Galicia, Spain—Read the Sotavento Case Study (PDF). The plant uses wind power, supplemented by hydrogen, to produce electricity.
OptoGreen Grants
Could you use Opto 22 equipment for your projects, machinery, products, or research related to renewable energy, energy consumption optimization, sustainability, or environmental remediation? Our OptoGreen Grant program, started in 2007, provides Opto 22 automation hardware and software at no charge to companies and organizations who are working on products, services, or research related to "green" energy.
We've written up two case studies on OptoGreen Grant recipients:
If your organization is interested, apply today for an OptoGreen Grant.
For the Future
We hope you'll join us in paying closer attention to environmental issues and our own responsibilities as corporate—and individual—citizens in the world.
For more information on OptoGreen: