MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis., — Milwaukee-area manufacturers are invited to attend a business forum focusing on cost-saving green technologies at the 3rd Annual Green Manufacturing Summit www.bradleycorp.com/greensummit/2010/. It will be held Tuesday, August 31, at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Bayside, Wis.
The free, half-day event is presented by Bradley Corp. of Menomonee Falls in partnership with Focus on Energy (FOE) and the media sponsor, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Local business and community leaders, and other green experts will discuss sustainable best practices. They will also spotlight proven cost- and resource-saving strategies geared toward small- and mid-size local manufacturers. Highlights include:
• A presentation of the top 20 sustainability trends for manufacturers with an emphasis on how green manufacturing can impact ROI by Tom Eggert, the founder and Executive Director of the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council and adjunct faculty member of UW-Madison’s School of Business.
• Educational breakout sessions that will provide insight into topics such as “Designing for Disassembly,” which will discuss planning for product life expiration; “Sustainable Trends in Packaging” that will explore innovations in the “less is more” packaging model; and “Greenhouse Gas Challenges,” which will cover how legislative changes are affecting manufacturers.
• A panel discussion, “Driving Energy Efficiency for Manufacturers,” that will feature experts from FOE, Frito Lay, Serigraph, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and Pieper Power. With a combination of presentations, case studies, guidelines for increasing energy efficiency, and interactive Q&A, this panel will inform, instruct and inspire attendees looking for strategies that reduce energy usage and operating costs.
“In today’s marketplace, a sustainable company is a viable company with a real competitive edge,” says Mike Sipek, COO of Bradley Corp. “It’s clear that companies that adopt sustainable practices are making real strides in strengthening and growing their businesses.
“Without a doubt, reducing the amount of energy, water and other natural resources counterbalances the initial investment of going green,” he says. “The companies featured in our program will share how they’ve greatly improved productivity and reduced operating costs as a result of these efficiencies.”
Among the local organizations sharing their expertise will be:
• Bradley Corp., Menomonee Falls, Wis.
• Design Concepts, Madison, Wis.
• Focus on Energy, Madison, Wis.
• Frito Lay, Beloit, Wis.
• Foley & Lardner, LLC, Milwaukee, Wis.
• Menasha Packaging Co., Neenah, Wis.
• Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Milwaukee, Wis.
• Pieper Power, Milwaukee, Wis.
• Serigraph, Inc., West Bend, Wis.
• Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council/UW-Madison School of Business, Madison, Wis.
"It can be difficult for business owners and operators to understand energy use and all the costs associated with it," says Nate Altfeather, who works with industrial businesses with Focus on Energy. "The intent of the Focus on Energy program is to provide expert, no-cost assistance to Wisconsin businesses to help them identify energy-saving opportunities as well as help quantify savings and provide financial incentives to help offset project costs. We want to help businesses make smart energy decisions that will help them save energy and money."
The Schlitz Audubon Nature Center was selected as a location for the Green Manufacturing Summit because it has achieved gold-level LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The Summit will kick off at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast and conclude before noon on Aug. 31. Registration is required for the event, as space is limited. For a complete schedule and to register, visit www.bradleycorp.com/greensummit.