EPA’s ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry Saves Over 56 Trillion BTU in Energy

ENERGY STAR Update
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Friday, August 22, 2014

Manufacturing sites achieving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Challenge for Industry have helped save over 56 trillion British thermal units (Btu) in energy, equal to preventing over 11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and saving enough energy to power nearly 1.3 million homes for a year -- all contributing to protecting people’s health and the environment.

In 2010, EPA challenged manufacturers to reduce the energy intensity of their manufacturing operations. Today, the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry continues to attract the participation of manufacturing sites across the globe as this energy management tool drives continuous improvement, generates excitement among employees, and fosters a cultural change within manufacturing organizations. More than 70 companies participate, including Colgate-Palmolive Company, General Motors, and Hanesbrands, Inc., who use the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry as a worldwide internal recognition program to move all sites to be more energy efficient.

Any manufacturing site may participate. Manufacturing sites must establish an energy intensity baseline, set a 10 percent reduction goal, implement energy efficiency projects, track energy use, and verify their savings. After a site achieves the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, EPA encourages them to set a new reduction goal. More than 30 sites have reached multiple targets.

Trade associations and regional energy efficiency programs have joined with EPA to improve the energy intensity of their industries. Both the International Dairy Foods Association and the American Bakers Association have issued calls-to-action on energy efficiency. Each have over 100 plants participating in the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry.

To learn more, visit www.energystar.gov/industrychallenge.

Cool Facts:

  • More than 850 manufacturing sites are participating
  • Nearly 250 sites have achieved EPA’s challenge
    • Average site reduction is 21%
  • More than 100 sites have set new energy reduction goals
  • Participating sites are located in more than 50 countries  

Products, homes and buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR label prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency requirements set by the U.S. EPA. In 2013 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved an estimated $30 billion on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual electricity use of more than 38 million homes. From the first ENERGY STAR qualified computer in 1992, the label can now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, with more than 4.8 billion products sold. Over 1.5 million new homes and 23,000 commercial buildings and industrial plants have earned the ENERGY STAR label.