Case Studies | Budderfly

A Connecticut‑Based Family Manufacturer Future‑Proofs Its Facilities with Budderfly

Written by Budderfly | Mar 31, 2026 7:40:57 PM

27,002 kWh in energy savingsSuccess Story: YMCA Saves $8,220 Annually With Budderfly

A $1.5 million energy and infrastructure overhaul—including 18 HVAC replacements, rooftop solar system, and LED lighting upgrades—transforms OEM Controls’ aging facility.


Numbers at a glance:
2025 Budderfly partnership est.
$1.5M investment from Budderfly
18 ultrahigh efficiency HVAC units installed
40% of on‑site energy from renewables


The Challenge

OEM Controls has built its reputation on innovation, quality, and nearly sixty years of family business experience. The Connecticut-based manufacturer has more than 200 employees, including engineers, designers, technicians, and production teams. Yet its aging, 75,000-square-foot facility was negatively impacting the working environment and driving up costs.

We spent a lot of time talking with the Budderfly team. They did an awesome job of understanding our situation. We had a lot of skepticism in the beginning. But their patience, their diligence, understanding who we are, and coming up with creative solutions really made it easy to work with and make the decision to go with Budderfly.

Sam Simons
Co-President & COO, OEM Controls
 

Critical infrastructure challenges:

  • Inconsistent heating, cooling, and air quality across the facility

  • Aging HVAC equipment that was inefficient and costly to maintain

  • Outdated lighting impacting energy use and employee comfort

  • Rising energy bills draining resources needed for equipment and growth

As with many small and mid-size manufacturers, the cost and complexity of replacing core energy infrastructure felt out of reach for OEM.

The company needed a partner who could take on the challenge of modernizing its 75,000 square-foot facility without derailing operations or requiring heavy capital investment.


The Solution

After thoughtful planning, providing creative solutions tailored to a complex manufacturing environment, Budderfly established a strong working relationship with OEM and the partnership began in April of 2025.

Budderfly invested $1.5 million in a complete, turnkey modernization of the building’s energy infrastructure—at no upfront cost to the manufacturer—including:

18 high efficiency HVAC units 
Full LED lighting overhaul, inside and outside the facility 
Rooftop solar installation with 230 kWdc of capacity 
New roofing and structural improvements 
Smart, efficient monitoring software to optimize energy use

 

The Results

Since partnering with Budderfly, OEM Controls has seen measurable improvements across comfort, energy efficiency, and sustainability. The updated facility now reflects the innovative legacy of the family‑run business and positions OEM for a long-term future of energy savings and stabilized operating costs.

 


Watch the Full Story

See how this family-owned manufacturer modernized its facility and unlocked long-term savings.