CalPortland Honored by EPA Energy Star Award

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded CalPortland Company the National 2009 ENERGY STAR Award for Sustained Excellence in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. CalPortland’s accomplishment over five consecutive years is a feat that has never been matched by any other U.S. building materials company. Key accomplishments include:

In 2008, CalPortland reduced overall energy intensity by 6.5% compared to 2007. This resulted in a reduction of 775,607,526 kBtu or a CO2 emission reduction of 75,234 metric tons which is the equivalent of providing electricity for 9,965 American homes. The decreased energy intensity saved the company over $3,000,000.

All three of CalPortland’s cement plants scored in the top 20% of cement facilities nationally based on ENERGY STAR’s EPI benchmarking tool. This was accomplished through comprehensive energy assessments, a strong energy management organization, employee outreach at all levels and best practice replication.

In 2008, CalPortland’s Mojave Plant completed a “behind-the-meter” wind project that represents the largest such renewable wind project serving a manufacturing facility in the world to date. Eight 3 Megawatt wind turbines (24 Megawatts total) generate 60,000,000 kWh/yr of renewable wind energy and supply approximately 35% of the plant’s electricity needs each year. This is a reduction of over 42,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions which is the equivalent of powering 5,255 homes for a year.”

CalPortland has doubled the size of its operations in the past 3 years. The company’s energy management system has grown as well to accommodate these new facilities. The company actively participates in ENERGY STAR’s cement industry focus and ranks its cement plants’ energy efficiency nationally using the ENERGY STAR energy performance indicator.

“CalPortland is committed to helping protect the environment through our energy management program and sustainability practices,” said Jim Repman, President and CEO. “Our long standing partnership with ENERGY STAR shows our organization’s commitment to energy efficiency. We understand that partnering with ENERGY STAR is an important step in improving the environment.”

The 2009 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

"EPA is delighted to recognize CalPortland with the 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award,” said Kathleen Hogan, Director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at the U.S. EPA. “CalPortland’s leadership on energy efficiency has yielded impressive results for their bottom line and our global environment.