Last year, General Motors received the Environmental Protection Agency’s highest honor for corporate energy management, the Energy Star Partner Of The Year For Sustained Excellence, and they’ve taken that recognition to heart. GM has added nine more facilities to the Energy Star recognition list, and twenty-two are repeat achievers to the EPA’s Energy Star voluntary Challenge For Industry. In less than three years, GM has shown 23% gains in energy savings in 63 separate facilities.
The EPA’s challenge was to cut energy use by 10% within 5 years. This would reduce energy expenses by $162 million which would be the price of electricity used in 244,000 homes, or a reduction of 1.6 metric tons of CO2. GM’s reduction of costs alone was $72 million.
Al Hildreth, the energy manager for General Motors stated, “GM spends more than $1 billion on energy, and although it is a small percentage of overall operating costs, it is an expense that must be properly managed. We measure energy on an hourly basis to give us an accurate snapshot of performance and opportunities.”
Several different procedures have been implemented globally by General Motors facilities to augment its energy efficiency:
The St. Petersburg plant in Russia has begun using devices that control the energy consumption of multiple energy sources, and now uses rapid-start equipment, which means that energy will be used for less time in those areas.
In Thailand, the Rayong Assembly plant has replaced incandescent light with LED bulbs in their paint inspection areas, installed sky lights to reduce the need for electrical light at all in many portions of the plant, and conducts energy audits every weekend.
Flint Assembly in Michigan (one of GM’s first factories) cut steam heat usage to reduce costs and lessen carbon emissions, and has upgraded its lighting as well.
According to the chief of the Energy Star Commercial and Industrial Program, Jean Lupinacci, “Energy efficiency can deliver significant financial and environmental benefits, and we look forward to General Motors’ continued leadership and partnership with Energy Star.”
Looking for ways to lower your energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions at your house? GM has that covered for you. Just check out their environmental blog entry entitled, “No Fooling: 10 Ways To Be Energy Efficient At Home.”
GM’s environmental blog also has ways for businesses to increase energy efficiency.
