Energy

General Motors Receives EPA’s Top Energy Award

Mar 1, 2012 5:15 PM ET
Campaign: GM Energy Efficiency

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Detroit, MI - March 1, 2012 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named General Motors its 2012 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in the motor vehicle category, citing its commitment to energy efficiency and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

GM’s U.S. energy-management team monitors 2.5 million pieces of energy data per minute in a dashboard system that identifies savings opportunities to increase efficiency of manufacturing operations.

“Our energy experts engage employees across our organization in reducing emissions and increasing efficiency,” said Mike Robinson, GM’s vice president of Sustainability and Global Regulatory Affairs. “This relentless pursuit helps us improve our environmental footprint and strengthen our business.”

GM demonstrated progress in several areas last year:

  • Energy management dashboard system led to company savings of more than $3 million.
  • Dedicated $12 million for implementation of energy cost-savings projects. The investment paid for itself in less than one year.
  • Generated $2 million in additional savings from powering four facilities with landfill gas, a renewable energy source. Avoided putting 131,400 metric tons of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. This is equivalent to avoiding electric use in 16,400 homes, or planting 3.4 million trees that grow for 10 years.

Overall, GM saved more than $15 million in energy costs.

“General Motors and all our ENERGY STAR award winners are improving the energy efficiency of the places where we work, play and learn, which is good for our climate, the health of our economy, and our future,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

GM’s commitment to energy efficiency is ongoing. Between 2005 and 2010, the company reduced energy use in global facilities by 30 percent, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 3.5 million metric tons.

In 2011, 30 GM plants met the EPA’s Challenge for Industry, cutting energy intensity by an average of 25 percent at plants in North America over 3 years – the equivalent of emissions from powering 97,000 U.S. homes. The efforts avoided $50 million in energy costs. Lansing Delta Township Assembly, which assembles the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse, also became the company’s first plant in the U.S. to receive an ENERGY STAR certification, meeting strict energy performance levels set by the EPA.

The company also started production of the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano using an upgraded energy-efficient paint shop that reduces energy intensity 50 percent by eliminating steam use and the need for a primer oven.

For more information on GM’s environmental commitment, visit its sustainability report andenvironmental blog.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.  GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.