Western Extralite's Best Idea Yet: “Go Green”

“We have no immediate plans to replace any service centers,but certainly, if we were to get to the point where we aregoing down that road again, we would look again at LEEDcertification,” Doolan added.“We’ve gained some institutional knowledge that will helpus as we move forward. If we were to build another facility,there is no question that we would put skylights in it,” TomIsenberg noted, adding that the participatory culture thatWestern Extralite has established almost ensures ongoinggreening.“Too often there’s a breakdown of trust inside organizations,”he said. “We try to run an operation where people feellike they can make a contribution through their ideas, whetherit’s an energy-saving or a process-im prove ment idea orsome other suggestion.The important thing tome is to create a culturethat encourages peopleto bring their good ideasforward.” ■LEARN MORE AT TEDMAG.COM:Western Extralite will be presented withthe 2012 “Greenest of the Green” awardat NAED’s 2012 National Meeting in Wash -ington, D.C. Following the meeting, lookfor video footage of the green initiativesdescribed in this article on tedmag.com.Niehaus is an active member of numerous environmentaland building industry or ga nizations, and her commitment togreen runs deep: Her St. Louis home is built with materials recycledfrom 1904 World’s Fair buildings. Contact Niehaus atJan@CommunicationByDesign.net.What’s in a name?What may seem like a curious name for an electrical distributorship, Western Extralite conveys thestory of an industrious and ambitious couple who immigrated to the United States from Dusseldorf,Germany, in 1937: Ludwig and Anne Isenberg.According to the company website, Ludwig and Anne brought with them a Belgian light bulbwith the brand name “Extralite,” so called because the silvered reflector bulb emitted superior light.The “Extralite” portion of the company name derived from this product. The word "Western" in thecompany name refers to the fact that Kansas City, Mo., where Ludwig and Anne settled andfounded their electrical wholesale business, is west of Belgium.Today, Western Extralite still sells a descendant of the original “Extralite” light bulb (pictured).Half the Men / Half the TimeYour source for unparalleled paralleling solutions!“Half the Time”“Half the Men”“No Prep”“No Cleanup”Reel-O-Matic’s Combo Paralleling Cable Reel Stands are a contractor’s dream.Versatile models available for their needs and your business!FOR YOUR FREE DVD CALL Toll Free: 1-888-873-4000 / 1-405-672-0000To learn more about our Wire and Cable Handling Solutions Please call or visit us on the web: www.reelomatic.comYour complete source for Reel and Cable Handling Equipment.For more information visit tedmag.com/InfoCardwww.TedMag.com Apr. 12 • the ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTOR 71