Indiana Auto Plant (IAP) earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR certification for the first time.
ENERGY STAR certification signifies that IAP performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency. The EPA bases the award on the amount of energy needed to produce an automobile, taking into account factors such as vehicle size and production volume.
Upon starting auto production in 2008, IAP incorporated the latest technologies to achieve energy-efficient operations. With the start of two full shifts in late 2011, energy characteristics designed into the plant allowed it to achieve top energy performance.
IAP’s energy efficient technology includes paint booth designs that minimize the volume of temperature-controlled air, as well as systems to facilitate heat recovery and to recycle exhaust air. The Greensburg plant also incorporated a building management system to optimize the control of heating, cooling and lighting needs.
“We are proud of our young team at the Greensburg plant,” said Bob Nelson, IAP’s senior vice president. “Being an energy efficient company is important to us and we place a big focus on our efforts to reduce any environmental impact.”
Honda automobile assembly plants in Ohio have earned the same designation for the sixth year. Honda of America Mfg.‘s auto assembly plants in Marysville and East Liberty, Ohio have ongoing initiatives to reduce energy consumption. Major areas include installation of energy-efficient equipment, implementing new technologies in auto-body painting systems and lighting efficiency improvements.
ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency.
“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s industrial facilities is critical to protecting our environment, ” said Jean Lupinacci, Chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial Branch. “From the plant floor to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their facilities more efficient and earning EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification.”