GM Shows Energy-Efficient Conviction with Latest ENERGY STAR® Challenge
Company's tally of plants to meet energy reduction goal reaches 70.
Three years ago, the first batch of GM plants met the EPA ENERGY STAR® Challenge for Industry, a voluntary energy reduction initiative recognizing plants that slash energy intensity throughout their facilities.
Now GM has a total of 70 plants that have met the challenge – 29 that have done so more than once. To be recognized, manufacturing plants must reduce the energy intensity of their operations at least 10 percent within five years or less.
How do our manufacturing plants keep finding ways to use less energy? Here are a few examples.
Bay City Powertrain in Michigan reduced energy intensity by 11 percent in less than two years. Most of its savings came from replacing or retrofitting 1,500 light fixtures with energy-efficient bulbs and adding motion sensors so lights come on only if they sense workers in the area. The annual energy savings from this project alone is over $345,000. The team also added weather stripping and serviced heating and cooling systems to prevent air leaks.
Two facilities in South Korea – Bupyeong Assembly 1 and Bupyeong Engine 2 – installed new, high-efficient motors at a body shop and optimized the pre-heating oven in the paint shop for an annual cost savings of over $900,000.
Also notable is our Dongyue Foundry in China, which reduced energy intensity by 12.1 percent in just three years. You can imagine how a facility that melts metal into liquid can hog energy, but this team automated energy shutdown, optimized hydraulic pumping and improved metal melting and pouring systems.
Other first time achievers in the Challenge for Industry are Gravatai Assembly in Brazil, Qingdao Assembly in China and Warren Transmission in Michigan.
We also just announced seven plants that have met the challenge again including Rayong Truck Assembly in Thailand, Jinqiao Powertrain and Qingdao Engine in China, Norsom 2 Assembly in China, Silao Transmission in Mexico, along with Bowling Green Assembly in Kentucky and Pontiac Stamping in Michigan who are GM’s first plants that have achieved the Challenge for Industry three times.
These ongoing energy efficiency efforts not only contribute to GM’s bottom line, but they help us reduce our impact on climate change. Less energy equals less emissions. After all, it’s not just about bringing more efficient vehicles to market, it’s overhauling the way they are built to conserve energy and other vital resources.
