Keihin’s Tarboro plant wins Honda’s 2012 Green Factory Award

Homepage

December 10, 2012

Keihin’s Tarboro plant wins Honda’s 2012 Green Factory Award

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER The Daily Southerner Mon Dec 10, 2012, 02:42 PM EST

TARBORO — Keihin Carolina System Technology (KCST) was presented with Honda’s Green Factory award on Nov. 15 in recognition for factory’s sustainability activities in the area of pollution prevention. The Tarboro facility encompasses a 147,000 square foot manufacturing space on 60 acres of land, where they produce leading Engine Control Units. John Foster, Sustainability Coordinator, describes KCST’s path toward being a sustainable enterprise, “It’s been an adventure so far, but a great one. We’ve learned so much.”

One of the first things they’ve learned along the way is how to tackle waste, achieving Zero Waste to Landfill status. Hazardous waste shipping has already been reduced at the plant by 67 percent along with the diversion of 2,500 wooden pallets annually from landfills. Printing conservation efforts have prevented the use of 1,000 reams, or 500,000 sheets, of paper. Cardboard — which made up the majority of waste to landfill — is now recycled on-site, saving the company a whopping $3,500 per month. This actively demonstrates that when a company makes the decision to divert waste, it not only helps the environment, but their pocketbook as well.

The cafeteria is one place at KCST where changes are tangible — with styrofoam dishware having been completely replaced by reusable plates and a newly installed dishwasher, diverting 250 plates daily from landfills. Food subcontractor Suburban Grille takes all of the factory’s compost and, as Foster explains, has been extremely cooperative in adapting to the new sustainability measures. Employees are provided a recycling center within the cafeteria where they can recycle aluminum cans, plastic bottles, utensils, etc.

As for energy efficiency measures, all air compressors have been upgraded, producing a 21 percent energy savings. Meanwhile, the facility's lighting has transitioned from metal halide bulbs to T5 bulbs and now the T5 bulbs are being replaced by LED bulbs, making for a 68 percent energy savings. Water usage decreased after automatic, low-flow toilets and faucets were installed in all bathroom facilities. A new white or “cool” roof installation along with run-as-needed, energy efficient heating and ventilation equipment hasn’t hurt energy savings, either.

Foster says the biggest sustainability challenge has been the mindset change internally. “It is difficult on associates. If you do things the same way for 14 years, you have to explain why it’s so important to change now. You have to retrain everybody from their old way of life.”

A staff Green Team meets once a month, with each team member being assigned to a sub-committee that focuses on specific issues like waste reduction, energy, events and so on. Employees can mark Green Team hours as community service hours. Staff conducted a total of 813 community service hours for multiple projects such as the Green Team and external non-profit projects within the first six months of this fiscal year.

Foster was pleasantly surprised that from the beginning there has been a high level of support from management. “We had total buy-in from top down, which has been essential to the program.”

Future sustainability goals include becoming a LEED-Certified Building, ISO 50001 Certification, maintenance of Zero Waste to Landfill status, 25 percent greenhouse gas reduction by 2018 and 50 percent greenhouse gas reduction by 2050.

Text Only

Homepage

Carlos Vivas takes a close look at a grave marker in the Community Cemetery in Princeville. Vivas along with several other volunteers meet Saturday in an effort to discuss methods of restoring the cemetery back to perpetual condition.

Monumental task
PRINCEVILLE — The volunteers who met Saturday to discuss cleaning the cemeteries on N.C. Highway 111 agreed that the task at hand is monumental.
Headed by Princeville native Milton Bullock, approximately a dozen volunteers exchanged ideas on how to turn the cemeteries from the overgrown weeded trash strewn graveyard, into a perpetual garden.
"I was told that it is in the worst shape that it has ever been in," Bullock said. "In many places, grass has covered markers. We have our work cut out for us, but with the help of God and all the partners pulling together, we will turn this cemetery."

May 22, 2013 2 Photos
NECP school building set for July 15 completion
NC House panel hosts public debate on voucher bill

Local News

A landscaping project at the traffic circle on North Main Street is an effort to improve America in Bloom judges' impression of the Town of Tarboro on their visit to town next month.

America in Bloom judges’ visit Tarboro next month
Tarboro’s America in Bloom (AIB) steering committee is gearing up for the AIB judges’ visit to town next month. AIB is a national non-profit organization that promotes “beautification through education and community involvement.”
“Please join us as Tarboro prepares for the visit of national AIB judges on June 17 and 18,” said AIB co-chair Connie Sherrill in a competition planning update. “Help us bring out the beauty of our exceptional town.”

May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Local Principal Completes Leadership Program

Sports

Former SouthWest Edgecombe football coach Raymond Cobb, left, and former baseball standout and coach, Bruce Rhodes, were inducted into the Cougars Hall of Fame Monday night.

Cobb, Rhodes inducted in Cougars Hall of Fame
PINETOPS – The SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars athletic department inducted two legendary coaches into their Hall of Fame Monday night. Former football coach Raymond Cobb and former baseball coach Bruce Rhodes were the recipients of the awards.

May 22, 2013 1 Photo
SWE Athletes of the Year

Opinion

My 13 years have been lucky
It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.

May 20, 2013

Lifestyles

Corbett/Chasse Wedding
Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.

May 13, 2013 1 Photo

Obituaries Archives

JOSEPH ORION BOONE
ROCKY MOUNT — Joseph Orion Boone, 85, of Rocky Mount, died Sunday, May 19, 2013. Funeral arrangements are pending with H.D. Pope Funeral Home, Rocky Mount.

May 22, 2013
ELIZABETH HATHAWAY BULLUCK
SHIRLEY A. GOLDSTON
CECIL R. HANSON
ODESSA HINES HERD

Food

Great fondue
My husband and I love to entertain. We also love fondue. I have 4 or 5 fondue pots. I use them regularly. Some of them I have had for a long time.
Fondue began as a way to use up old, hardened cheese. The original fondue was cheese with wine. You then dipped hardened pieces of bread into the mixture. In America, the 1950's was the height of the fondue craze. However, it appears to be making a comeback.

May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Budget Friendly Deliciousness
Barbeque Bests
Coffee isn't just a drink

Events

Edgecombe Events May 22
Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave a daytime contact phone number.

May 22, 2013

Our Community

Edgecombe Garden Club honors members
The Edgecombe Garden Club met May 1 for their noon luncheon at the Fountains of the Albemarle. After President Pauline Nicolosi greeted everyone, Sandra Joyner, Devotion Chairman, read “Torch” which was about our tongues torching good or evil.
Hostess Barbara Getzug described her specially designed flower arrangement of mock orange, snowball, purple columbine, and many varieties of roses. President Pauline, Hostesses Gloria Wall and Louise Fleming did the table arrangements. They contained wiegelia, azalea, ivy, mock orange, and ligustrum.

May 22, 2013 1 Photo
DAR AWARDS

Homepage

Search Results

Keihin’s Tarboro plant wins Honda’s 2012 Green Factory Award

Does the IRS tax exempt disclosure concern you?

Site Map