CEMEX USA announced June 8 that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have awarded three of its U.S. cement manufacturing plants the 2010 Energy Star for their superior energy performance. CEMEX’s plants in Clinchfield, Ga.; Louisville, Ky.; and Demopolis, Ala. received the 2010 Energy Star.
“CEMEX is leading the industry for energy efficiency and our work to protect the environment,” said Gilberto Perez, president of CEMEX USA. “We’re honored to again have three plants receive this award by the U.S. government. CEMEX’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing is clear, our local men and women at the plants are focused and we’re achieving results while producing the highest quality products to build the nation’s communities and infrastructure.”
It is not the buildings that are recognized, but the actual efficient cement manufacturing processes and performance at each of these CEMEX cement plants that is labeled with the Energy Star. So far, the EPA and DOE have only awarded five Energy Star awards for individual cement plants in the U.S. for 2010, and CEMEX’s plants have received three of them. CEMEX USA was also recently awarded the EPA’s Energy Star 2010 Partner of the Year Award for its work in managing its energy and cutting greenhouse gases company-wide. This is the second consecutive year it has achieved this Partner of the Year honor and received the award at a ceremony in March in Washington, D.C.
CEMEX’s Clinchfield, Louisville, Demopolis, and Wampum, Pa. plants received the 2009 Energy Star. In 2008, its Clinchfield, Louisville, Wampum, Davenport, Calif., and Knoxville, Tenn. cement facilities received the award – this was the most cement plants selected for any one company in the U.S. In addition, CEMEX’s Clinchfield, Davenport and Louisville plants were awarded the Energy Star in 2007.
Over the last year, the plants conducted compressed air system surveys to identify leaks, installed more efficient motors, completed staff energy training programs, upgraded lighting systems with motion sensors, increased the use of permitted and authorized alternative fuels, reduced equipment idle times, performed process inspections, and conducted audits to reduce unnecessary power usage. All three plants implemented measures to improve their energy use performance.
CEMEX’s successful energy management program can be attributed to senior management support, best practice sharing, adoption of new technologies, and utilizing external resources and tools from Energy Star. CEMEX USA is a corporate partner of the Energy Star program, has been one of Energy Star’s biggest advocates and has worked relentlessly in promoting energy efficiency within CEMEX and throughout the industry. CEMEX has also worked with customers, suppliers and local communities to raise awareness of energy efficiency and the Energy Star message.
The Energy Star program is a joint initiative by the EPA and DOE that focuses on strategic energy management and emphasizes the importance of demonstrating environmental leadership for future generations.
CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The company has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through its efforts to pursue innovative industry solutions and efficiency advancements and to promote a sustainable future.