30 GM Plants Meet EPA Energy-Reduction Challenge

Dec. 16, 2011 - PRLog -- DETROIT – General Motors has cut energy intensity at 30 North American plants by an average of 25 percent – equivalent to  the emissions from powering 97,000 U.S. homes – to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star© Challenge for Industry.

Collectively, the manufacturing facilities avoided more than 778,380 metric tons of greenhouse gas. It would require the planting of 20 million trees that grow for 10 years to mitigate the same amount.  

And the efforts saved GM $50 million in energy costs.

EPA’s program challenges manufacturing companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving their energy efficiency by 10 percent within five years. The GM plants agreed to establish an energy intensity baseline normalized by production volume. They set a 10-percent improvement goal, implemented energy efficiency projects, tracked energy use and verified savings.

"EPA congratulates GM for achieving these important energy efficiency improvements," said Jean Lupinacci, chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial and Industrial Program. "Energy efficiency can deliver significant financial and environmental benefits, and we look forward to GM's continued leadership and partnership with ENERGY STAR."

To achieve the challenge, GM employed tactics such as benchmarking energy use through energy management systems; automating shut-down of equipment; and upgrading to energy-efficient lighting and more-efficient heating and cooling systems.

The achievements follow the Lansing (Mich.) Delta Township plant receiving EPA Energy Star Certification for performing in the top 25th percentile of similar facilities nationwide.  Worldwide, GM is committed to reducing emissions and petroleum dependence by being more energy efficient.

“GM employees at all levels help us reduce energy use and be more efficient throughout our operations,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of Sustainability and Global Regulatory Affairs. “With this also comes a strong business case – these improvements saved us $50 million, which helps make the company more competitive.”

GM’s 30 plants represent nearly a third of all sites that have achieved the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry. According to the EPA, 86 of the 386 manufacturing sites that have taken the challenge have met the goal to date, improving their energy efficiency by 10 percent or more.

For more information on GM’s environmental commitment, visit www.gm.com/environment and GM’s sustainability blog www.GMBeyondNow.com.

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