Original Date: 02/19/2007
Revision Date: / /

Raytheon’s Network Centric Systems Manufacturing Center in Largo, Florida, has implemented an aggressive energy conservation program that has reduced kilowatt-hour consumption by 11% from 2005 to 2007. Grassroots efforts initiated by employee volunteers have transformed the company culture at the Largo facility, increasing awareness and stimulating interest in energy conservation.

When the Raytheon Network Centric Systems (NCS) Manufacturing Center in Largo, Florida, came online in April 1999, the facility lacked a formal energy management program. As Raytheon’s use of floor space in the county- owned facility grew, several managers realized an effective energy conservation program was necessary. The goal of reducing energy consumption in a leased facility was challenging, but in the fall of 2005 several employees formed the Energy Committee. Members of the newly formed committee reviewed power usage in the facility and immediately identified an increase in kilowatt-hour power consumption from 19,431,519 in 2004 to 21,659,418 in 2005. The committee further determined that roughly 45% of the energy consumption was tied directly to the HVAC and that reducing HVAC costs would prove to be difficult in a county-owned facility.

The Energy Committee realized that implementing an effective energy conservation policy would require heightened employee awareness to stimulate interest and generate creative solutions. The facility landlord, representing the county, was invited to be a part of the team and work with Raytheon team members to develop short- and long-range plans for energy conservation upgrades at the facility. This included implementing changes that went beyond changing out traditional light bulbs for fluorescents. Raytheon worked with the county to set the air-conditioning at 77× and the heat at 68×. While the change was initially unpopular, employees quickly worked with facility managers to monitor and balance air circulation throughout the factory to eliminate uncomfortable temperature differences.

Raytheon has also begun to deploy thin-client desktops with LCDs to replace traditional desktop PCs and less power-efficient CRT monitors. Realizing that ad hoc break rooms for employees were also likely to contain power- hungry appliances (e.g., microwaves and miniature refrigerators), managers worked with employees to create three large, centralized break rooms. Raytheon also invited local power and HVAC companies to the facility for Earth Day to distribute both energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs for the home and information on decreasing energy consumption. Stimulating interest in energy conservation among employees, management, and facility operators has proven to be the key to successful energy consumption measures at Raytheon’s Largo Manufacturing Center.

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