Business Going Green:
MU Pollution Prevention Program brings big cost savings to Missouri businesses in 2010

Nick Lang worked on his own as a pollution-prevention intern last summer. Not only did he identify cost and energy savings for a southwestern Missouri company, but he also helped the firm apply for an Energize Missouri grant.

The University of Missouri's Environmental Assistance Center recently announced the results of this year's pollution prevention partnership with Missouri business and industry.

This has been the most successful year to date for the EAC's Pollution Prevention Program, a collaboration between the MU Extension Business Development Program and the College of Engineering. It matches engineering interns with companies and municipalities across Missouri to identify cost savings related to improved environmental performance.

"In a ten-week period, the interns identified more than $480,000 in environmental savings opportunities, pushing total savings for the program, which started in 2008, to nearly a million dollars," says Marie Steinwachs, EAC director. "The results show that the environmental and economic health of Missouri businesses and organizations is directly linked."

The Pollution Prevention Program's achievements for 2010 include:

• A transportation study was conducted for the city of Chesterfield's vehicle fleet that could reduce 229 gallons of motor oil and 90 gallons of transmission fluid per year.
  
• Two interns identified ways to reduce 127,683 pounds (19,500 gallons) of hazardous waste annually from one company's painting operations.
  
• The phased implementation of water and energy saving strategies recommended by an intern at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City could achieve a savings of $155,000 annually. Further recommendations could lead to an additional savings of nearly $38,000.
  
• Energy reductions provided the biggest win for this year's project. Combined savings would cut 2.14 million kilowatt hours of electricity and more than 2 billion BTUs of natural gas. Additionally, the students identified ways to conserve nearly 1.7 million gallons of water.
  
• In all, the student projects would reduce the equivalent of 2,049 metric tons of carbon dioxide in the environment.

James Kelsey worked with another intern last summer to identify ways for a Missouri company to reduce 19,500 gallons of hazardous waste annually from its painting operations. This was one of the many 2010 pollution prevention projects that resulted in improved environmental performance and cost savings for Missouri companies.

"All companies and organizations that hired one of our interns have gained much more than they spent," says Steinwachs. "Not only do they learn where savings were found, but they receive an analysis that includes the cost of implementation and return on investment."

Interns also identify where grants, loans and utility incentives can offset the cost of implementing the recommendations. Steinwachs urges businesses to apply now for an intern for 2011.

"The business application process is simple. We're already taking applications for next summer; the deadline is Apr. 1," says Steinwachs.

"The pollution prevention intern project is an excellent example of what can be achieved when the University works with business and industry. It utilizes the expertise of students and faculty to bring real-world solutions to companies and municipalities facing present day environmental issues, plus it helps everyone save a lot of money."

• Details on how to apply for an intern

This story was featured in the November 2010 newsletter