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Annual Green Tier Report Summary

For the Year 2018

Introduction

R Stresau Laboratory (Stresau) develops, manufactures and tests energetic devices for a variety of

military and industrial applications. The facility has been in operation since 1961. R. Stresau

Laboratory’s evaluation expertise has been used in many branches of the armed services and a variety of

industries.

Stresau is a privately owned company located in northern Wisconsin. The company employs 87 people,

as of December 31, 2018, and became ISO 9001:2008 re-certified in May 2015. In August of 2008,

Stresau changed its work schedule to a four 10-hour day work week. This has lowered the amount of

energy consumed by the facility and by employees during their commute. It has an effect not only on

energy consumption, but also on greenhouse gas emissions. Energy consumption is highest at the

beginning of the day when everything starts up. By eliminating one start-up each week, the facility is

realizing significant reduction in energy usage.

The facility is licensed to operate a Thermal Treatment Unit (TTU) to render waste on site, and has

lowered its generator status from Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) to Small Quantity Generator

(SQG). During a review in 2016-2017 with EPA and WI DNR representatives, Stresau was directed to

change how it account for energetic waste, differently from previous years, this changed resulted in a

generator quantity status change. Stresau also has an active recycling program for metals, cardboard,

batteries, CFL and fluorescent light bulbs and other materials.

In 2006 Stresau began discussions with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources about becoming

a Green Tier participant and officially submitted an application to become a Tier 1 Green Tier participant

on February 19, 2007. Upon acceptance as a Tier 1 Green Tier participant, Stresau committed to

implementing an Environmental Management System and to engage in continuous improvement of their

environmental performance.

On 22 August 2017, Stresau Laboratory, Inc. (Stresau Laboratory) underwent an independent third-party

audit of the Environmental Management System (EMS) implemented and maintained at Stresau

Laboratory. The results of the audit indicate that the Stresau Laboratory EMS is in conformance with the

requirements found in 299.83 (dg) of the Environmental Results Program and that the Stresau Laboratory

EMS is functionally equivalent to the ISO 14001:2004 standard.

Recently, Stresau Laboratory has been working with our customers, requesting how certain requirements

in contracts could be modified to reduce the use of paper and rely more on digital storage. These requests

may include the use of digital x-ray results in lieu of traditional film and the use of digital storage for the

retention of contracts within the constraints by federal or local regulations. A goal to reduce the overall

amount of paper and storage required for these processes.

Summary energy reports are listed on page 6 through 8. Additional changes in energy consumption can

be attributed to additional production and environmental changes for heating and cooling, changes in

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temperature during the year and a modification in quantities ordered, increasing production in some

buildings.

Complete report will be submitted to Mr. Wegener, Weston, Green Tier Project Coordinator.

Green Tier Acceptance Date

R Stresau Laboratory initiated the application process in 2007 and was accepted into the Wisconsin Green

Tier Program as a Tier I participant on April 30, 2009. Since the acceptance, the Green Tier Program has

become part of our ISO 9001-2015 annual review, a continuation from ISO 14001:2004 standards. The

importance of reducing our impact on the environment we believe helps sets us apart from other industry

partners.

Program Goals and Objectives

Energy Use Reduction

Recycling and Continued Waste Reduction

Educate employees on environmental issues and opportunities

Identification, elimination or reduction in non-biodegradable cleaning products

Paperless file retention system (SentryFile) – Upgrading current digital system

Improve efficiency of Thermal Treatment Unit (TTU) – Additional types of Units

Participate in industry efforts to develop “green” energetics

Energy Use Reduction

Objective/Completion Date Results/Outcome

Installation of high efficiency fluorescent

or LEDs where applicable

Completion Date: Ongoing

Productions buildings have had continuous updates to

LED lights throughout 2018. i.e. Building 14

External sidewalk lights converted to LEDs as

existing fixtures are needed to be replaced or

upgraded.

An audit of lights that are schedule to be replaced has

been completed, it is estimated that half the facility

remains to be changed. Current plans are to change

an entire building at a time and the process is

expected to take two to three years.

Increase building insulation.


Additional insulation was installed in building 6 to

increase efficiency.

Building 6 entry door replaced, additional doors and

windows will be replaced to reduce air flow

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Exploration of alternative energy sources


Stresau will continue to research alternative energy

sources to reduce the amount of energy consumed.

The use of Solar on roof tops and wind presents

hazards at this time, a review of recapturing heat loss

within buildings and processes is our current focus.

Replace existing motors with energy

efficient motors.


When existing motors need replacing, Stresau will

research and replace with the most energy efficient

motor available.

Example – replacing single phase motors to higher

efficiently 3 phase motors during upgrades to HVAC

systems.

Decrease overall operating energy usage.


Facility continues to operate a 10-hour day, 4-day

week work schedule. Energy usage slashed to a

minimum by operating only essential processes

during non-production times.

HVAC Efficiency.


Building 12 heating was converted from electrical to

Gas for higher efficiently when operated

Air exchange systems are having duct work modified

to have air filtered and circulated within the structure,

reducing overall heat loss while maintaining air

quality

Recycling and Continued Waste Reduction


Utilization of recycled materials in

production operations


Continue to bid manufactured items using recycled

cost savings packaging materials

We have made requests to our customers for the use

and certification of other suppliers in order to provide

a greater range of possible purchasing partners

Recycling Program Implemented


As contracts allow, Stresau recycles scrap metal,

aluminum, plastic, cardboard, pallets locally.

Proper Disposal of Hazardous Materials


On an annual basis, expired / waste hazardous

materials are properly disposed of through the

NWRPC Clean Sweep program. WRR is also used to

ensure hazardous materials are properly disposed of.

E-waste properly disposed

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Educating Employees on Environmental Issues and Opportunities


Topics Include:

Living a Greener lifestyle by Reduction, Reuse and Recycling;

Updates on Stresau programs;

Information on alternative fuels, solar and wind.

Encourage vehicle fuel efficiency


Training is provided to all employees via staff

minutes, distributed every two weeks to all employees

and posted on employee bulletin boards. Postings and

handouts are provided to employees as well, covering

a wide range of informational and environmental

topics.

Additional supporting guidance to bring household

material to local recyclers, supporting recycling

growth in the facility. 2019 NW Wisconsin

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule

shared in Bi-weekly staff minutes and posted in the

employee break/lunch room to help encourage house

hold recycling by county.

Identification, Elimination or Reduction in Non-biodegradable Cleaning Products


Identify environmentally harmful cleaning

products used and replace with

environmentally friendly alternatives.

Completion Date: Ongoing / 2019

Environmentally friendly cleaning products replaced

previously used cleaning products.

Requests have been submitted to current uniform

supplier to review other possible products used for

cleaning that could be serviced (towels, mops, etc) in

lieu of disposable material.

During 2019, switching from disposal mop heads for

floor cleaning to washable, reusable mop heads as the

disposal mops are used per building.

Paperless File Retention System Implemented


Reduce the use of paper through the

implementation of electronically stored

documents.


Ongoing efforts are made to reduce the use of paper

by storing documents electronically through the

implementation of SentryFile software. Files are

assigned a specific number and they are easily

accessible to employees needing to access information

from the file.

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Requests to customers to have retention requirements

adjust to include digital or digital only version, such

as the use of digital x-ray results in lieu of traditional

x-ray film.

Improve Efficiency of Thermal Treatment Unit (TTU)


Improve efficiency of Thermal Treatment

Unit (TTU)


This is a 12v battery operated system, with a solar

panel being used to maintain and recharge the

battery(s).

New TTU processing unit is being reviewed by DNR

Air Management for any additional permitting

requirements that maybe required. Current process is

still in place, for the safety of the public and the

inability to classify the generated waste by

Department of Transportation requirements, the

energetic waste will continue to be treated on site

Participate in Industry Efforts to Develop “Green” Energetics


Industry wide effort to develop “green”

energetics


Stresau participated in the research and testing of

energetic material aimed at replacing lead based

energetics

Current products that would reduce the dependency

on lead based energetics do not provide the require

results in current products and some customer

contracts require specific materials for production.

Alternative materials are being reviewed and

continue to be evaluated.

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915,510

834,793

686,533

892,083

775,083

927,598981,421

881,609813,826

774,218843,919

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

kWh Totals

3,123,720,120

2,848,313,716

2,729,507,876

3,043,787,196

2,644,583,196

3,164,964,376

3,348,608,452

3,008,049,908

2,776,774,3122,641,631,816

2,879,451,628

1,500,000,000

1,700,000,000

1,900,000,000

2,100,000,000

2,300,000,000

2,500,000,000

2,700,000,000

2,900,000,000

3,100,000,000

3,300,000,000

3,500,000,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Electric Usage in BTU's

Electric Usage in BTU's

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7765.97504.6

7745

8457

3850

9121.1

7740.4

6954.67498.3

8935.4

11307.1

2500

3500

4500

5500

6500

7500

8500

9500

10500

11500

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Propane Gallons

639,521,865

618,003,810637,800,750

696,425,715

317,047,500

751,122,585

637,421,940

572,711,310

617,485,005

735,830,190

931,139,685

0

100,000,000

200,000,000

300,000,000

400,000,000

500,000,000

600,000,000

700,000,000

800,000,000

900,000,000

1,000,000,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Propane Usage In BTU's

Propane Usage In BTU's

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3,763,241,985

3,466,317,526

3,367,308,626

3,740,212,911

2,961,630,696

3,916,086,961

3,986,030,392

3,580,761,218

3,394,259,3173,377,462,006

3,810,591,313

2,750,000,000

2,950,000,000

3,150,000,000

3,350,000,000

3,550,000,000

3,750,000,000

3,950,000,000

4,150,000,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Total BTU

annual green tier report summary for the year 2018 › topic › greentier › participants ›...

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