CONTACT:
Stacy Kika
Kika.stacy@epa.gov
202-564-0906
202-564-4355
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2011
Energy Star Challenge for Industry Saves Power, Money, and Prevents Harmful Emissions
More than 2 trillion Btu, enough energy to power 37,000 homes for a year, saved
WASHINGTON — One year ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenged the manufacturing industry to improve the energy efficiency of their facilities by 10 percent or more within five years. Since that time, 240 manufacturing sites have responded to the Energy Star Challenge for Industry and 34 sites have improved their energy efficiency by 10 percent or more. These energy efficiency improvements prevent harmful greenhouse gas emissions and protect the health of Americans.
“Energy efficiency is a wise investment,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “EPA and Energy Star are there to help companies protect public health and the environment by reducing emissions, and save money by saving energy.”
Both small and large manufacturing facilities have met the milestone and have prevented nearly 119,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, demonstrating that efficiency opportunities exist across all sectors of industry including aerospace, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and motor vehicle manufacturing. Many of these sites also report that savings were achieved at low cost by strengthening energy management practices and improving operations with help from EPA’s Energy Star program.
Under the challenge, manufacturing sites establish an energy intensity baseline, set a 10 percent energy efficiency improvement goal, implement energy efficiency projects, track energy use and verify their savings. Hundreds of industrial companies across nearly a dozen manufacturing industries are working with EPA’s Energy Star program to develop strong energy management programs, earn the Energy Star for their facilities and achieve breakthrough improvements in energy efficiency.
The U.S. manufacturing industry is responsible for nearly 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and spends nearly $100 billion annually on energy. If the energy efficiency of industrial facilities improved by 10 percent, EPA estimates businesses would save nearly $10 billion and prevent greenhouse gases emissions equal to the annual emissions of approximately 12 million vehicles.
Energy Star was started by EPA in 1992 as a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by EPA. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved approximately $18 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 33 million vehicles.
For a complete list of manufacturing sites: http://www.energystar.gov/industrychallenge
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