Company Close-Up: Practicing What You Preach With EPD

Houston-based Electronic Power Design (EPD) is a manufacturer and supplier of integrated power control solutions for a wide range of clients around the world. Among the principal industries it serves are the offshore marine, mining, and dredging sectors. EPD has become a global leader over the past 25 years by providing cost-effective, energy-efficient, turnkey power solutions to its customers.

“We offer customized power control solutions from offices in the U.S., Brazil, China and Singapore,” said John Janik, EPD’s Chairman. “Part of our success has been being in the right place at the right time, and with our global footprint we have been able to grow along with our customers.”

But the company does more than just grow. It also practices the energy efficiency it sells to clients. Recently it moved into a new, 250,000-square-foot world headquarters in Houston, which is fully solar-powered. Excess power is put back into the city’s electrical grid. The company not only earns tax credits for contributions to the grid but also realizes substantial savings on energy costs.

EPD has built its reputation on innovative power control systems for companies like BOURBON and Transocean and by being a solutions partner with Siemens for more than 20 years. EPD’s containerized engine operating stations (EOSs) for offshore support vessels, for example, are pre-manufactured, pre-tested and installed into the ship’s hull during the early stages of construction. The EOS contains control equipment, switchboards, digital devices and connections to manage power distribution throughout the vessel. It is externally connected to power and control cables in order to reduce damage during construction and minimize the time spent commissioning a vessel.

By relocating the company to its new world headquarters, Janik was able to demonstrate to competitors, clients and the community how to become more energy-efficient and, at the same time, save money. His commitment to energy conservation also drove him to buy an electric Tesla automobile and to buy its stock as well, which is up 140 percent this year. Now that’s being “green” in more ways than one! – MarEx

Tony Munoz is Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of The Maritime Executive. This article was featured in an environmental special feature digital-only edition of The Maritime Executive. If you are not subscribed, you can do so here free of charge.