It's been a year since Kettle Foods opened the first LEED® Gold certified food manufacturing plant in the U.S. and we've been making Kettle Brand® Potato Chips on the Beloit, Wis. prairie ever since.

To mark our first anniversary, we're pleased to report that our energy and water savings are right on track! Here are some of the benefits we have seen this year:

• Annual energy savings (gas and electric) of 20 percent, translating to an estimated cost reduction of $110,000 on natural gas and $51,000 on electricity.

• Annual water savings of $34,000 due to reclamation systems capturing and reusing 3.4 million gallons of water.

• Monthly recycling of 2,300 gallons of waste oil with conversion to biodiesel, an alternative fuel used to power a company fleet of diesel-engine cars called BioBeetles.

• Annual reduction of more than 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the elimination of shipping lines between Oregon and the Midwest.

• Completion of the first phase of prairie restoration resulting in the growth of new native plants and the return of prairie wildlife.

At Kettle Foods we've always believed that good business can coexist with nature. Our commitment starts with using only the best, all natural ingredients and extends to our backyard where we work to preserve natural habitat, protect the environment and use energy responsibly. With every crunch of our Kettle Brand® Potato Chips, you're helping us make that dream come true.