Five Facilities in Kentucky among 70 Top Performing Energy Star Certified Manufacturing Plants in 29 States

From EPA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2015

Five Facilities in Kentucky among 70 Top Performing Energy Star Certified Manufacturing Plants in 29 States   Across the country, Energy Star manufacturing plants are leading their industries by saving energy and money, combating climate change

Contact Information: Dawn Harris Young, EPA, (404) 562-8421 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main), harris-young.dawn@epa.gov

ATLANTA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that 70 manufacturing plants have achieved Energy Star certification for their superior energy performance in 2014. Together, these manufacturing plants saved a record amount of energy, cut their energy bills by $725 million, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 8 million metric tons –equivalent to the annual total energy use of more than 650,000 households. From implementing corporate energy management programs to implementing energy efficiency projects, there are many ways plants can save energy with EPA’s Energy Star program.   “Energy Star certified manufacturing plants are leading their industries by advancing energy efficiency and making cost-saving improvements while combating climate change,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “Through their work with EPA, the 2014 Energy Star manufacturing plants are demonstrating that making sustainability and energy efficiency improvements is a smart business decision.” Energy Star certified plants are independently verified on an annual basis to have reached the top 25 percent of energy performance for their industries nationwide. Among these are plants from the auto assembly, cement manufacturing, corn refining, food processing, glass manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and petroleum refining industries. Seven are certified for the first time: • ConAgra Foods’ American Falls, Idaho frozen fried potato processing plant; • ConAgra Foods’ Ogden, Utah cookie and cracker baking plant; • Essroc Cement Corp.’s Martinsburg, W.Va. cement manufacturing plant; • Essroc Cement Corp.’s Nazareth, Pa. cement manufacturing plant; • Lehigh Cement’s Glen Falls, N.Y. cement manufacturing plant; • Lehigh Cement’s Leeds, Ala. cement manufacturing plant; and • Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s Illinois Refining Division petroleum refinery.

Since the inception of EPA’s Energy Star certification, a total of 139 manufacturing plants have achieved this distinction. These plants have saved over 530 trillion British thermal units (TBtu) in energy, equal to preventing more than 36 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and saving enough energy to provide the total yearly energy needs of approximately 3 million American households.

EPA provides industry-specific Energy Star plant benchmarking tools to help industry measure energy performance. These are available or under development for more than 20 manufacturing sectors. Energy Star benchmarks enable companies to compare a plant’s energy performance against those of its industry and empower manufacturers to set informed improvement goals.

2014 Energy Star Manufacturing Plants by State:

Alabama: Lehigh Cement Leeds (Cement)*

Arizona: CalPortland Rillito (Cement) Salt River Materials Group Clarkdale (Cement)

California: Ardagh Group Madera (Container Glass) CEMEX Victorville (Cement) Lehigh Cement Redding (Cement)

Florida: CEMEX Brooksville South (Cement) CEMEX Miami (Cement) Titan Pennsuco Cement Co. (Cement)

Georgia: CEMEX Clinchfield (Cement) Kellogg Company Augusta (Cookie & Cracker) Kellogg Company Columbus (Cookie & Cracker)

Idaho: ConAgra Foods American Falls (FF Potato)*

Illinois: ConAgra Foods South Beloit (Cookie & Cracker) Marathon Illinois Refining Division (Refinery)* Oak State Products Wenona (Cookie & Cracker)

Indiana: Ardagh Group Dunkirk (Container Glass) Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (Auto) Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana – West (Auto)

Kentucky: CEMEX Kosmos Louisville (Cement) Kellogg Company Florence (Cookie & Cracker) Kellogg Company Louisville (Cookie & Cracker) Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky – Plant 1 (Auto) Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky – Plant 2 (Auto)

Louisiana: Marathon Louisiana Refining Division (Refinery)

Massachusetts: Ardagh Group Milford (Container Glass)

Maryland: Lehigh Cement Union Bridge (Cement)

Minnesota: ConAgra Foods Park Rapids (FF Potato) Faribault Foods Beverage Division (Juice)

Mississippi: Nissan NA Canton (Auto) Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi (Auto)

Missouri: Continental Cement Hannibal (Cement)* Holcim St. Genevieve (Cement) Buzzi Unicem River Cement (Festus) (Cement)

Nebraska: Merck Intervet Inc. Elkhorn (Pharma)

New York: ConAgra Foods Tonawanda (Cookie & Cracker) Lehigh Cement Glen Falls (Cement)*

North Carolina: Kellogg Company Cary (Cookie & Cracker)

Ohio: CEMEX Fairborn (Cement) Honda of America Manufacturing East Liberty (Auto) Honda of America Manufacturing Marysville (Auto) Kellogg Company Cincinnati (Cookie & Cracker) Marathon Ohio Refining Division (Refinery)

Oklahoma: Ardagh Group Sapulpa (Container Glass)

Pennsylvania: Essroc Cement Corp. Nazareth (Cement)

Puerto Rico: Merck Las Piedras (Pharma) Merck MMD Arecibo (Pharma)

South Carolina: Holcim Holly Hill (Cement)

Tenessee: Buzzi Unicem Signal Mountain (Chattanooga) (Cement) Merck Cleveland (Pharma) Nissan NA Smyrna (Auto)

Texas: Allergan Pharmaceuticals Waco (Pharma) Buzzi Unicem Alamo Cement (Cement) Buzzi Unicem Maryneal (Cement) Buzzi Unicem Pryor (Cement) Holcim (Texas) Midlothian (Cement) Martin Marietta TXI Operations Midlothian (Cement) Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (Auto)

Utah: ConAgra Foods Ogden (Cookie & Cracker)* Holcim Devil's Slide (Cement)

Virginia: Titan Roanoke Cement Company (Cement)

Washington: ConAgra Foods Quincy (FF Potato) ConAgra Foods Richland (FF Potato) ConAgra Foods Warden (FF Potato) JR Simplot Othello (FF Potato) JR Simplot Moses Lake (FF Potato) Phillips 66 Company Ferndale (Refinery)

West Virginia: Essroc Cement Corp. Martinsburg (Cement)*

Wisconsin: Ardagh Group Burlington (Container Glass) ConAgra Foods Ripon (Cookie & Cracker) *Represents first time certification

Energy Star is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For more than 20 years, people across America have looked to EPA’s Energy Star program for guidance on saving energy, saving money, and protecting the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. From the first Energy Star qualified computer in 1992, the label can now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, 1.6 million homes, and 24,000 commercial buildings and industrial plants. Today, Energy Star is the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in the world, helping families and businesses save $300 billion on utility bills, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by two billion metric tons since 1992. Join the millions who are already making a difference at energystar.gov.

For more information about Energy Star certified plants, see: www.energystar.gov/plants For specific plant profiles, see:www.energystar.gov/buildinglist To learn more about how Energy Star and industry work together, see:www.energystar.gov/industry

###

Three Facilities in Tennessee among 70 Top Performing Energy Star Certified Manufacturing Plants in 29 States

From EPA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2015

Three Facilities in Tennessee among 70 Top Performing Energy Star Certified Manufacturing Plants in 29 States   Across the country, Energy Star manufacturing plants are leading their industries by saving energy and money, combating climate change

Contact Information: Dawn Harris Young, EPA, (404) 562-8421 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main), harris-young.dawn@epa.gov

ATLANTA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that 70 manufacturing plants have achieved Energy Star certification for their superior energy performance in 2014. Together, these manufacturing plants saved a record amount of energy, cut their energy bills by $725 million, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 8 million metric tons –equivalent to the annual total energy use of more than 650,000 households. From implementing corporate energy management programs to implementing energy efficiency projects, there are many ways plants can save energy with EPA’s Energy Star program.   “Energy Star certified manufacturing plants are leading their industries by advancing energy efficiency and making cost-saving improvements while combating climate change,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “Through their work with EPA, the 2014 Energy Star manufacturing plants are demonstrating that making sustainability and energy efficiency improvements is a smart business decision.” Energy Star certified plants are independently verified on an annual basis to have reached the top 25 percent of energy performance for their industries nationwide. Among these are plants from the auto assembly, cement manufacturing, corn refining, food processing, glass manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and petroleum refining industries. Seven are certified for the first time: • ConAgra Foods’ American Falls, Idaho frozen fried potato processing plant; • ConAgra Foods’ Ogden, Utah cookie and cracker baking plant; • Essroc Cement Corp.’s Martinsburg, W.Va. cement manufacturing plant; • Essroc Cement Corp.’s Nazareth, Pa. cement manufacturing plant; • Lehigh Cement’s Glen Falls, N.Y. cement manufacturing plant; • Lehigh Cement’s Leeds, Ala. cement manufacturing plant; and • Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s Illinois Refining Division petroleum refinery.

Since the inception of EPA’s Energy Star certification, a total of 139 manufacturing plants have achieved this distinction. These plants have saved over 530 trillion British thermal units (TBtu) in energy, equal to preventing more than 36 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and saving enough energy to provide the total yearly energy needs of approximately 3 million American households.

EPA provides industry-specific Energy Star plant benchmarking tools to help industry measure energy performance. These are available or under development for more than 20 manufacturing sectors. Energy Star benchmarks enable companies to compare a plant’s energy performance against those of its industry and empower manufacturers to set informed improvement goals.

2014 Energy Star Manufacturing Plants by State:

Alabama: Lehigh Cement Leeds (Cement)*

Arizona: CalPortland Rillito (Cement) Salt River Materials Group Clarkdale (Cement)

California: Ardagh Group Madera (Container Glass) CEMEX Victorville (Cement) Lehigh Cement Redding (Cement)

Florida: CEMEX Brooksville South (Cement) CEMEX Miami (Cement) Titan Pennsuco Cement Co. (Cement)

Georgia: CEMEX Clinchfield (Cement) Kellogg Company Augusta (Cookie & Cracker) Kellogg Company Columbus (Cookie & Cracker)

Idaho: ConAgra Foods American Falls (FF Potato)*

Illinois: ConAgra Foods South Beloit (Cookie & Cracker) Marathon Illinois Refining Division (Refinery)* Oak State Products Wenona (Cookie & Cracker)

Indiana: Ardagh Group Dunkirk (Container Glass) Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (Auto) Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana – West (Auto)

Kentucky: CEMEX Kosmos Louisville (Cement) Kellogg Company Florence (Cookie & Cracker) Kellogg Company Louisville (Cookie & Cracker) Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky – Plant 1 (Auto) Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky – Plant 2 (Auto)

Louisiana: Marathon Louisiana Refining Division (Refinery)

Massachusetts: Ardagh Group Milford (Container Glass)

Maryland: Lehigh Cement Union Bridge (Cement)

Minnesota: ConAgra Foods Park Rapids (FF Potato) Faribault Foods Beverage Division (Juice)

Mississippi: Nissan NA Canton (Auto) Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi (Auto)

Missouri: Continental Cement Hannibal (Cement)* Holcim St. Genevieve (Cement) Buzzi Unicem River Cement (Festus) (Cement)

Nebraska: Merck Intervet Inc. Elkhorn (Pharma)

New York: ConAgra Foods Tonawanda (Cookie & Cracker) Lehigh Cement Glen Falls (Cement)*

North Carolina: Kellogg Company Cary (Cookie & Cracker)

Ohio: CEMEX Fairborn (Cement) Honda of America Manufacturing East Liberty (Auto) Honda of America Manufacturing Marysville (Auto) Kellogg Company Cincinnati (Cookie & Cracker) Marathon Ohio Refining Division (Refinery)

Oklahoma: Ardagh Group Sapulpa (Container Glass)

Pennsylvania: Essroc Cement Corp. Nazareth (Cement)

Puerto Rico: Merck Las Piedras (Pharma) Merck MMD Arecibo (Pharma)

South Carolina: Holcim Holly Hill (Cement)

Tenessee: Buzzi Unicem Signal Mountain (Chattanooga) (Cement) Merck Cleveland (Pharma) Nissan NA Smyrna (Auto)

Texas: Allergan Pharmaceuticals Waco (Pharma) Buzzi Unicem Alamo Cement (Cement) Buzzi Unicem Maryneal (Cement) Buzzi Unicem Pryor (Cement) Holcim (Texas) Midlothian (Cement) Martin Marietta TXI Operations Midlothian (Cement) Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (Auto)

Utah: ConAgra Foods Ogden (Cookie & Cracker)* Holcim Devil's Slide (Cement)

Virginia: Titan Roanoke Cement Company (Cement)

Washington: ConAgra Foods Quincy (FF Potato) ConAgra Foods Richland (FF Potato) ConAgra Foods Warden (FF Potato) JR Simplot Othello (FF Potato) JR Simplot Moses Lake (FF Potato) Phillips 66 Company Ferndale (Refinery)

West Virginia: Essroc Cement Corp. Martinsburg (Cement)*

Wisconsin: Ardagh Group Burlington (Container Glass) ConAgra Foods Ripon (Cookie & Cracker) *Represents first time certification

Energy Star is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For more than 20 years, people across America have looked to EPA’s Energy Star program for guidance on saving energy, saving money, and protecting the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. From the first Energy Star qualified computer in 1992, the label can now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, 1.6 million homes, and 24,000 commercial buildings and industrial plants. Today, Energy Star is the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in the world, helping families and businesses save $300 billion on utility bills, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by two billion metric tons since 1992. Join the millions who are already making a difference at energystar.gov.

For more information about Energy Star certified plants, see: www.energystar.gov/plants For specific plant profiles, see:www.energystar.gov/buildinglist To learn more about how Energy Star and industry work together, see:www.energystar.gov/industry

###

2015 Tesla Model S P85D: Electric to excess! (CNET On Cars, Episode 61)

NREL: News Feature - NREL's Newest PE-Licensed Engineers Commit to Sustainability

The latest class of Professional Engineers (PEs) at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been around the world, from Alaska to Afghanistan, helping soldiers, airmen, and indigenous peoples save energy while saving taxpayer dollars.

Nationwide, about 20% of engineers earn their PE license, gained only after several years of work under the eyes of a veteran engineer, studying for hundreds of hours, and passing a series of two grueling eight-hour tests.

NREL: News Feature - NREL's Newest PE-Licensed Engineers Commit to Sustainability

From NREL:

NREL Tool Finds Effective Behind-the-Meter Energy Storage Configurations

Small battery systems can offer attractive return on investment

Monday, March 09, 2015

The Energy Department's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has used the Battery Lifetime Analysis and Simulation Tool (BLAST) to confirm that energy storage for demand-charge management can deliver attractive economic benefits. The analysis paired recent utility rate structures with historic data on solar photovoltaic electricity generation and commercial facility loads to evaluate 6,860 unique scenarios. The results revealed that, in the absence of incentives, small battery systems reducing peak demand by 2.5 percent offer the most attractive return on investment.   

Demand charges can account for more than 50 percent of a commercial customer's monthly electric bill.  Analysis conducted using the Behind-the-Meter (BTM-Lite) version of BLAST computed peak load reduction and electricity cost savings while also identifying energy storage system configurations that deliver the most favorable return on investment in the shortest time possible.

"Batteries for demand-charge reduction are most cost effective under today's rate structures when configured for higher power-to-energy ratios, targeting discharge durations from 30 minutes to one hour," NREL Energy Storage Task Leader Jeremy Neubauer said. "State or utility incentives are often necessary to make longer duration, lower power-to-energy ratio systems more attractive."

Developed by NREL and funded by the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the full suite of BLAST tools makes it possible to predict long-term performance of batteries and identify possible improvements in a wide range of applications, including in electric vehicles (BLAST-V) and stationary energy storage (BLAST-S). BLAST BTM-Lite is available for free download. It can also be paired with NREL's Battery Ownership Model to assess lifetime battery costs in conjunction with performance, longevity, and new value propositions.

NREL is a recognized leader in energy storage R&D, spearheading modeling, simulation, and testing activities. The laboratory's innovative and integrated approach to sustainable transportation helps government, industry, and other partners develop and deploy the components and systems needed for market-ready, high-performance, low-emission, fuel-efficient passenger and freight vehicles, as well as alternative fuels and related infrastructure.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

###

Wind Vision

From the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:

Utility-scale #wind turbines are currently installed across the country and support more than 50,000 industry-related #jobs in #manufacturing, #construction, maintenance and supporting services. The Energy Department released a new #WindVision report this week that looks at the future of wind power in #Americathrough 2050. Read the full report, which contains projections for wind #energy prices to fall and support as many as 600,000 jobs: http://go.usa.gov/3aMv4.

Get your smart lights in line with a manual reset