Boating Industry Canada
The major US battery manufacturer, Crown Battery, commits to 100% renewable energy for manufacturing in 2021. Although batteries could reduce carbon emissions and pollution - recycling them and their carbon footprint determine environmental impacts. Crown Battery is currently a leader in 99% recyclable energy storage products, and now manufacturing will be completely powered by renewable energy. Reducing CO2 emissions and protecting the environment while benefiting the local economy.
Crown Battery has signed a contract with AEP Energy, a subsidiary of American Electric Power. Crown will source clean energy through AEP’s Integrated Renewable Energy (IRE) solution. This long-term, fixed-price retail energy option supports new, locally sourced wind and solar -- for more than 12 years beginning in January 2023.
While the new renewable projects are being developed and built, Crown Battery will purchase 100% National Green-e Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) until the IRE supply begins.
“Sustainability is a key buying requirement for us, and we aren’t alone,” says John Connell, Vice President of SLI Products Group, Crown Battery Manufacturing. “More and more, our customers are asking, ‘Do you have a sustainability program in place?’ And companies have openly told us that they switched from prior suppliers to us because of our green manufacturing efforts.”
“Crown's battery type is already more recyclable than an aluminum can, according to the US EPA," says Hal Hawk, President of Crown Battery. "This commitment to renewable energy makes our batteries even greener." According to the USA, lead-acid batteries are 99% recycled -- the most recycled product in North America. They’re 99% recyclable. And 80% of the material for new batteries of this chemistry comes from previously recycled batteries.
How to minimize batteries’ CO2 footprint -- while creating jobs:
Energy-sipping equipment lowers emissions and costs. Crown Battery’s prior energy efficiency enhancements include on-site solar panels, ultra-efficient lighting, and geothermal cooling using colder temperatures deep in the Earth (saving 163,452 kilowatt-hours a year).
Crown has invested more than $8 million of its own money in energy efficiency. The company’s latest project, an ultra-efficient charging system, will drastically reduce energy consumption. (Charging accounts for 70% of Crown’s electrical usage.) The new charging equipment will also enhance battery performance and lifespan.
“With help from AEP Energy, we’ve saved enough electricity to power 13,000 American homes... all while creating jobs and reducing operating costs,” says Hawk. “Now, we’re excited to reduce our carbon footprint even more – and build our batteries with recycled materials and electricity from the sun and wind. Sustainable energy management is the future. Renewable energy is a win-win for our environment, our company, our community, and our customers.”