The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Schering-Plough Corporation as a 2009 Energy Star Partner of the Year for outstanding energy management and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The company's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 31.
In addition, Schering-Plough's plant in Cleveland, Tenn., recently earned an Energy Star from the EPA for ranking in the top 25 percent of energy performance nationwide. The Cleveland facility on average uses nearly 35 percent less energy than similar pharmaceutical plants across the country.
"Managing energy well is critical to our operations," said Tom Pagliuco, director of energy, Schering-Plough. "We are using 'greener' sources of energy, including one of the largest rooftop solar panel installations in North America, as well as co- and tri-generation systems. However, reducing overall energy consumption is our main goal. We believe the greenest Kilowatt is the one not used."
"EPA is pleased to recognize Schering-Plough for leadership in addressing global warming through greater energy efficiency," said Kathleen Hogan, eirector of the EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division. "Because commercial and industrial facilities account for about half of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, Schering-Plough's efforts are vital to protecting our global environment."
Schering-Plough, an Energy Star partner since 2006, will be honored for strategic energy management and a worldwide commitment to energy conservation that has produced savings in energy and cost. Schering-Plough's leadership committed to energy conservation by establishing a Global Energy Management Team. The Team's mission is to develop global policies, programs and initiatives aimed at energy reduction over the next several years. Progress is already being made. Energy intensity was reduced by 3.7 percent in 2008 from 2007 and the energy used in more than 16 million square feet of facility space worldwide is being actively monitored and controlled through a Web-based data management system.
The EPA recognition bestowed on Schering-Plough's Cleveland, Tenn., plant demonstrates the companywide commitment to efficient energy usage, said Rich Appeldoorn, the facility's general manager. "Everyone at our plant understands the importance of using energy as wisely as possible and we're proud the EPA has recognized our efforts."
The pharmaceutical sector spends more than $800 million on energy annually. EPA worked in partnership with pharmaceutical companies to develop the Energy Performance Indicator, which is available as a benchmark tool for all companies to compare their energy performance against others in the industry. Schering-Plough/Cleveland, Tenn., was one of only four sites to receive an Energy Star designation this year.
The 2009 Partner of the Year Awards recognize efforts to use energy efficiently in facility operations and to integrate superior energy management into overall organizational strategy. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
Energy Star was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. For more information about Energy Star, visit www.energystar.gov.
Schering-Plough is an innovation-driven, science-centered global health care company. Through its own biopharmaceutical research and collaborations with partners, Schering-Plough creates therapies that help save and improve lives around the world. The company applies its research-and-development platform to human prescription, animal health and consumer health care products.
