The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing the first cookie and cracker bakeries to earn ENERGY STAR certification. The first thirteen ENERGY STAR certified bakeries are owned by Lance Private Brands, Richmond Baking of Indiana, Oak State Products, Bremner Food Group, and the Kellogg Company. Compared to average plants, these thirteen ENERGY STAR certified bakeries save 4.3 trillion Btus of energy, avoid nearly $24 million in utility bills, and prevent more than 85,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, equivalent to the emissions from more than 16,000 cars. Plants verified to be in the top twenty-five percent of performance nationwide may be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification.

·         More information about ENERGY STAR Cookie and Cracker Energy Performance Indicators

·         Find ENERGY STAR certified manufacturing plants across the U.S.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing the first container glass plants to earn ENERGY STAR certification. The first ENERGY STAR certified container glass plants include three Verallia North America plnats, owner by Saint-Gobain, located in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Massachusetts. Compared to average container glass plants, these ENERGY STAR certified container glass plants annually save 1.3 million Btus of energy, avoid about $7.5 million in energy bills, and prevent the emission of nearly 61,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, equal to the emissions from the electricity use of more than 7,000 homes for one year. Plants verified to be in the top twenty-five percent of performance nationwide may be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification.

·        More information about ENERGY STAR Glass Energy Performance Indicators

·         Find ENERGY STAR manufacturing plants across the U.S.

A new report by researchers at Duke University affirms that the ENERGY STAR program has helped improve the energy efficiency of the cement manufacturing industry, which has cut its energy intensity by 13 percent over a decade. This improvement is equivalent to a total source energy use reduction of over 60 trillion Btu and an annual emissions reduction of almost 1.5 million metric tons of energy-related carbon, according to the report. Cement manufacturing is very energy intensive, and the improvements represent a substantial shift in the industry’s energy efficiency curve. 

The report, Measuring Improvement in the Energy Performance of the U.S. Cement Industry, validates EPA’s energy management strategy, particularly the importance of performance measurement and recognition for top performance. The report also demonstrates that the gap between top performing cement manufacturing plants and others has closed and the performance of the industry as a whole has improved.

·         EPA statement about the report (97KB)

·         Measuring Improvement in the Energy Performance of the U.S. Cement Industry

·         More information about EPA's work with the cement industry

Thousands of buildings across the country are saving energy while reducing harmful air pollutants and protecting the health of Americans with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program. EPA recognized 74 leading Energy Star organizations for their achievements in energy efficiency across their entire building portfolios in 2010, 50 of which were recognized as first time Energy Star Leaders. Through their commitment to superior energy management, these organizations together have prevented the equivalent of more than 460,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually and saved more than $100 million a year.

EPA Press Release