Success Story: ENCAP L.L.C.

Partner Information

ENCAP L.L.C., Green Bay, WI

“I spent a great deal of time pre-planning my building efforts and created a ‘green building’ guideline to outline overall project objectives. Bottom line, I wanted to build a green building that I could showcase.” — Michael D. Krysiak President, ENCAP L.L.C.

Seed Company Encapsulates Green Philosophy, Energy Efficiency

ENCAP L.L.C. in Green Bay, WI, markets grass seeds that are encapsulated in a blanket of mulch containing recycled paper fiber with micro-nutrients and conditioners, quality fertilizers, and a growth-enhancing agent. The process that the company has patented makes it easier to grow greener lawns for both commercial and residential applications. The company’s philosophy is twofold: to produce environmentally friendly products, and to consider ways to make its own facilities “green” too. With current technology, ENCAP is able to employ an ecological friendly philosophy through profitable investments in energy efficiency during the construction of its new facility.

Company Encapsulates Green Philosophy, Good Business Sense

ENCAP took a number of steps to reduce energy consumed by lighting. It installed energy efficient T-8 fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts throughout the facility, reflective ceilings to reduce the need for lighting fixtures, and high efficiency outdoor lighting.

In addition, the heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) system installed in the new building surpasses the standards established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating Engineers (ASHRAE). Efficient features of the HVAC system include efficient duct work, designed to lower needed fan power, insulated ducts, a high efficiency refrigeration rooftop unit, and infrared radiant heaters to provide comfortable task heating in certain areas.

ENCAP’s efforts have paid off. Its lighting system exceeds the standards for the State of Wisconsin’s allowable power usage in the following ways: 50 percent less demand for exterior lighting (5.8 kW allowed, 2.5 kW installed), and 25 percent less demand for interior lighting (41 kW allowed, 29 kW installed).

Total Quality Management, Totally Profitable

Michael D. Krysiak, the president of ENCAP L.L.C., says that making the company’s new facility energy efficient is just part of the company’s philosophy. “We’ve gone beyond conventional resource use and pollution reduction methods by emphasizing value creation for ENCAP and society at large, while still providing for competitive needs,” Krysiak says. “By increasing value, we will maximize resource productivity and gain bottom-line benefits, rather than simply doing it for the sake of compliance. This really is an extension of our total quality management strategy and links our goals of business excellence with environmental excellence by creating the bridge through which we can support sustainable development, while generating economic growth.”

ENERGY STAR for small business

Because of their success in following an environmental philosophy while improving the bottom line, ENCAP received a year 2000 ENERGY STAR for small business Award. To find out more information about ENCAP, please visit its Web site at http://www.encapseed.com.