In Queens, PepsiCo is now bottling drinks using its own steam. Last year, the company spent $2.35 million to install combined heat and power system at its bottling plant in College Point, The New York Times reports.
Four natural gas powered 400-kilowatt generators were installed and help produce about 80 percent of the plant's electricity needs. Instead of letting the heat from the generators escape, the system captures and converts the heat into steam, which is then used to warm the bottles and clean the machines. This has helped the company reduce use of its boilers by 70 percent.
In addition, by producing its own energy, PepsiCo is also eligible for a New York City program that pays it about 4 cents for every kilowatt-hour that it produces on-site.
Robert Sherman, vice president of operations at Pepsi-Cola Bottling told The New York Times that the co-generation system is expected to recuperate its cost in three years and that the company expects to meet its goal of saving more than $408,000 in the first year.
The company ranked third in the second annual Beverage Container Recycling Scorecard and Report. PepsiCo was lauded for using the highest percentage of recycled PET in its bottles.
