Interns for the environment

Precision parts manufacturer Overland Products Co. wanted to reduce the amount of electricity it uses at its plant in Fremont, Neb., but it didn't have a worker with the time and expertise to make real dents in consumption.

So the company turned to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Partners in Pollution Prevention, or P3, an internship program that puts juniors and seniors studying science, engineering and technology into Nebraska businesses that need help.

Universities in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri have similar programs.

Christian New, a graduate student in environmental engineering and manager of engineering interns for UNL's program, said preventing pollution at the source is more cost effective and environmentally sound than cleaning up or recycling.

Since the P3 program started in 1997, more than 178 interns have helped more than 475 businesses in 65 communities from Scottsbluff to Omaha.

The program assesses its impact at businesses two or three years after making recommendations and has found that about 40 percent of the proposals made by students have been implemented, said Stacey Hawkey, program coordinator.

At Overland Products, using P3 to help reduce power used by the company's air compressors, lights, heating and air conditioning fits the firm's needs, said John LaMar, director of manufacturing safety and efficiency.

“Energy consumption is not something we look at full time,” said LaMar, adding that minor changes can produce long-term savings.

The company also wants to leave a smaller “footprint” on the environment by reducing waste, he said.

Interns in the P3 program earn about $5,600 for the summer, with two weeks of training and about nine weeks on the job. They also earn three hours of course credit.

While it is primarily a summer program, administrators also have begun to experiment with part-time internships through the school year, Hawkey said.

Companies that receive intense help pay students between $3,300 and $3,800, or about 60 percent of their salaries. Grants from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality cover the rest.

Since the program's inception, companies have cut costs an average of $6,200 per year through more efficient operations, New said. Returns between 2001 and 2007 have been even higher, with companies lowering costs by about $9,000 per year, he said.

Projects have included:

Ÿ Reducing water consumption and wastewater treatment sludge at an electrical parts manufacturing plant.

Ÿ Reducing solid waste at health care facilities and a motel by encouraging workers to make double-sided copies of documents, use reusable dishware and recycle kitchen grease.

Ÿ Improving the sprinkler system at an optometrist's office.

The program generally uses three models to assist businesses. In one approach, a student works intensely with one large company.

A second model involves teams of students working with several large businesses, operating much like an environmental consulting firm.

The third approach, which is free to the businesses involved, has one student helping a number of smaller businesses in a region while teaching pollution prevention through media interviews and talking to community groups.

Students in Nebraska's program sometimes come from other universities in Iowa, Missouri and Kansas because Nebraska's is the oldest program and at one point served the four-state EPA Region 7, Hawkey said. That happens less as the other programs mature, she said. Students from Nebraska could go to the other states as well, but Hawkey said she did not know how often that happens.

Overland Products' intern is Tyler Holm, a senior at UNL majoring in mechanical engineering. He is working to find ways to reduce electricity consumption and recycle solid waste, including wood pallets that can't be reused, said LaMar, the Overland director of manufacturing safety.

Holm said he might recommend that Overland install a high-volume, low-speed ceiling fan to circulate air and reduce heating costs. The plant's current lights could be replaced with newer, more-efficient fluorescent lighting, and the pallets could be repaired or broken down for mulch, he said.

He also was examining the air-compressor system for repair and improvement.

The program has been a good experience, Holm said.

“I've learned a lot about pollution prevention and problem-solving skills learned in the work force, not just assignments in school.”

The salary was good, too, compared with other summer jobs he has held, Holm said.

Bill Ekeler, owner of Overland Products, said he hopes the company learns from Holm's study and implements his recommendations.

This summer, 13 students are working for companies in cities including Kearney, York, Lincoln and Omaha, said New, who helps manage some of the interns.

Companies get a “low-cost, fresh set of technically competent eyes to help them reduce waste and save money,” New said. “Students get real-world, hands-on experience applying what they've learned.”

Airlite Plastics Co. in Omaha, which makes plastic food containers, participated last year.

One student examined changes in its compressed air system to help reduce utility costs. Craig Christensen, an engineering manager at the 600-employee company, said the intern found leaks and suggested nozzle changes.

As equipment is repaired and replaced over the next several years, the changes could add up to a couple of hundred thousand dollars in annual savings, Christensen said.

The P3 program was a low-cost way to examine the potential savings, Christensen said.

“We've used his report to form our attack strategy.”

Contact the writer:

444-1117, joe.ruff@owh.com