by Shane Henson — April 30, 2012—As research has shown that a growing number of consumers prefer to do businesses with sustainably minded companies, those who turn to products created by hair-care manufacturer Zotos International Inc. to maintain their tresses may be pleased to know the company recently completed the largest wind project of any manufacturer in the United States.
Zotos’ 3.3 MW on-site wind energy project, which powers its 670,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Geneva, New York, is comprised of two 1,650 kW wind turbines.
The company’s wind project is expected to meet nearly 60% of the Geneva plant’s power needs. To achieve the plant’s goal of using 100% renewable energy, Zotos recently entered into an agreement to purchase up to 9 million kWh of green energy.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, Zotos’ project is also the first wind project of its kind in Ontario County, New York, and the largest private industrial wind plan in New York State. The 2009 federal stimulus bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, covered 30% of the wind project’s costs.
Zotos says it invested in wind power as part of an overall sustainability initiative. The company’s other green efforts include energy-efficient lighting, reductions in water consumption, a significant increase in rail use, and the use of 100% recycled materials in most of its packaging. Zotos also pioneered the use of plant-based plastics in its bottle production.
