ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., June 17, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Lime Energy (Nasdaq:LIME) today announced it recently completed an energy efficiency retrofit project for Azteca Foods in Chicago. The retrofit project is projected to save over $40,000 per year from reduced energy costs. The improved lighting fixtures will provide 30% more light output and a more uniform lighting level throughout the facility. In addition to the hard dollar savings, the permanent reduction of 423,747 kilowatt-hours per year in energy use provides the following environmental benefits each year:
-- 762,745 pounds of Carbon Dioxide
* the leading cause of Global Warming
-- 9,695 pounds of sulfur dioxide
* the leading cause of Acid Rain
-- 3,263 pounds of nitric dioxide
* The leading cause of Smog and Acid Precipitation
-- 66 passenger cars removed from the road each year.
"The project made sense on a number of levels," said Arthur Velazquez, CEO of Azteca. "First, many of our customers come to us to encourage us to include sustainability as an important part of our operation. Second, the return on investment for the Lime Energy project was attractive relative to expected returns for our company. Third, Lime Energy has structured installment payments where our utility cost savings are higher than the monthly project cost, so this did not really impact our cash flow at all," continued Mr. Velazquez.
"The project came together very quickly because it made so much sense at our facility," said Joseph A. Barnes, Vice President with the Lime Energy Central Region. "We at Lime Energy are proud of our accomplishment here and happy that we can meet the customer needs. At $40,000 per year, the energy cost savings here are significant and it is to Azteca's credit that they made their decision in a timely manner so they could benefit from the new lighting and the savings sooner," concluded Mr. Barnes.
About Azteca Foods, Inc.
Founded in 1970, the Company's principal belief is that satisfied employees provide the high quality products purchased by customers, from which resources flow to provide wages and profits to shareholders. Azteca is committed to utilizing its technological capabilities to maximize the traditional methods of tortilla production together with modern and efficient operations.
About Lime Energy
Lime Energy is a leading provider of energy efficiency solutions that reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Lime brings together more than 75 years of cumulative experience in providing customers with solutions that generate immediate savings and high returns on invested capital. The company's stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol LIME. Additional information is available at the company's website at www.lime-energy.com or by calling 847-437-1666.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements that reflect Lime Energy's current expectations about its future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. Lime Energy has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words and phrases such as "may," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "plan," "should," "typical," "preliminary," "hope," or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Lime Energy and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Lime Energy's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities in 2008 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward- looking statements. These risks are referenced in Lime Energy's current Annual Report on form 10-K or as may be described from time to time in Lime Energy's subsequent SEC filings; and such factors as incorporated by reference.