Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corporation, a sponge rubber and plastic foam manufacturer, recently made advancements to its green energy initiatives at its Long Branch plant and headquarters in New Jersey.

The company is expecting to make efficiency improvements that will benefit its customers through increased savings and a lower production cost.

“Monmouth is going state-of-the-art, with efficiency on a global scale,” said John Bonforte Sr., the company founder and general manager. “Our participation in this program contributes to the overall protection of the power grid and helps avoid additional utility costs and lost revenues for all consumers and businesses in our community.”

The facility will install new lighting, which will lower the company's electric bills, and incorporate new equipment. The plant already recycles 98 percent of its waste materials.

The project was assisted through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program, which offers rebates and incentives for commercial, industrial and government customers to increase renewable technologies.

Mercer County Community College in New Jersey also recently announced plans to construct the largest college campus solar project in America, which according to CleanTechnica will consist of more than 33,000 solar panels.