The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that 93 U.S. manufacturing plants earned the agency's ENERGY STAR certification in 2022. ENERGY STAR certified plants are verified to be among the most energy-efficient plants within their industries. Together, they prevented more than 5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector, which is responsible for nearly a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
"As these companies demonstrate, improving energy efficiency serves to confront climate change while strengthening our economy," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Manufacturing plants that reduce energy consumption as part of the transition to a zero-emissions future save money and create the resiliency needed for the long-term health of their operations, our economy, and our planet."
Thanks to their superior energy performance over a single year, these plants avoided nearly 90 trillion Btus of energy consumption and prevented emissions equal to the annual energy use of nearly 650,000 American homes. Since the first plants were certified in 2006, ENERGY STAR certified plants have cumulatively saved manufacturers more than $7 billion on energy bills when compared to average-performing facilities.
Energy efficiency cuts energy waste and is an essential action for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for both the United States' Long-Term Strategy and the sustainability of the manufacturing sector.
To assess energy performance, plants use EPA's ENERGY STAR energy performance indicators (EPIs), or, in the case of petroleum refineries, the Solomon Associates Energy Intensity Index (Solomon-EII) scoring system. Plants must score 75 or higher on these 100-point scales--indicating that they are more energy efficient than at least 75% of similar facilities nationwide--to be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification. ENERGY STAR certification is available for 20 manufacturing sectors, from cement and steel to glass and commercial bakeries.
Illinois manufacturers earning the rating were:
- Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Robinson (petroleum refining)
- TreeHouse Foods, Inc., South Beloit (cookie and cracker baking)
Categories: Illinois, Energy