At C.H.I. Overhead Doors, it’s more than just doors; it’s our commitment to the environment.
We build doors in Arthur, a small town in the middle of Illinois Amish country. Our community is quiet, safe, and clean – and we like to do our part to keep it that way. C.H.I. Overhead Doors has taken numerous steps to make our operations as green as possible by recycling waste products, reducing transportation emissions, and increasing our energy efficiency.
Recycling
By separating our recyclable materials, we are doing our part to reduce landfill waste. We recycle all of the steel that is not usable in the production process, as well as the cardboard packaging material surrounding the shipments we received from our vendors and suppliers.
Many of the raw materials that C.H.I. utilizes in the manufacturing process contain recycled content. Everything from the steel on the outside of the door to the foam insulation on the inside, as well as the glass and plastics that make up our windows, is fabricated by taking advantage of recycled content.
Reducing Transportation Emissions
C.H.I. Overhead Doors utilizes an energy efficient fleet of trucks in the Transportation Department. An on-site maintenance facility ensures that each truck is in top shape, resulting in better fuel mileage and reduced emissions. We also purchase many components locally, reducing in-bound freight emissions. Many of the components supplied by outside vendors are transported to our manufacturing facility in C.H.I. trucks returning from product deliveries. This process adds to energy savings and reduces exhaust emissions.
Perhaps the most significant change in our fleet of trucks has an economic impact as well as an environmental influence. C.H.I. has recently equipped all of its long-range trucks with Tripac Auxiliary Power Units (APU). While trucks traditionally had to idle constantly for a driver to be able to utilize on board features like heating and cooling, an APU achieves the same process, without leaving the truck engine running. This results in a drastic savings of both fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions as the two charts below indicate.
Increased Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Facility
The C.H.I. Overhead Doors manufacturing facility has found new ways to become more energy efficient over the years. We have reduced energy consumption by utilizing a state-of-the-art heating system and replacing all lights in the plant to high-efficiency, low power consumption fixtures. With 13 acres under roof, the energy savings are quite significant. Dock seals and weather stripping ensure minimal energy loss on shipping/receiving doors, while roofing over shipping docks additionally helps to reduce winter heat-loss and summer heat-gain. The building design employs minimal partition walls, eliminating ‘hot/cold pockets’ and providing efficient air movement, creating a more comfortable environment and less energy use.
With all of these energy efficient features in place, C.H.I. Overhead Doors will continue to provide the highest quality doors with a minimal impact on the environment.