Energy Efficiency, Commercial, Wind  -  April 11, 2019

CooperVision eyes 100% RE, efficiency advancements

CooperVision, manufacturer of soft contact lenses, has converted its three Rochester, N.Y.-area sites to 100% renewable electricity usage. The company began moving to electrical power using RECs two years ago in Rochester.

The company's facilities now completely rely on wind-derived electricity via RECs, a choice made by CooperVision because of wind generation's prominence in New York State. "Making the switch to 100% renewable electricity was the right thing to do as we continue to invest in upgrading our Rochester facilities," said Myles Ott, environmental, health & safety engineer in a statement from  CooperVision. "It reflects our commitment to the environment, health, and well-being of our employees and the local community, as well as complementing many of our customers' and partners' sustainability efforts."

As part of ongoing renovations at the company’s Scottsville site, which manufactures made-to-order contact lenses, the company has made several other enhancements. These include LED lighting installations, incorporation of natural lighting in the cafeteria, and the introduction of variable-speed motors for reduced power consumption, as well as significant gains in materials recycling.

Likewise, the 275,000-square-foot West Henrietta distribution site has made several sustainability advancements, including a retrofit with new energy-efficient LED lighting, covering 95% of all spaces. It recently obtained zero waste-to-landfill status, with 90% of materials recycled and the remaining 10% converted to energy.