GM Lordstown cuts energy use

Staff report

lordstown

The General Motors complex in Lordstown has reduced its energy intensity by 33 percent in the past two years.

The Lordstown complex was one of 54 facilities that met a voluntary energy- reduction challenge set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of the agency’s Energy Star Challenge for Industry, according to a statement from GM. Energy Intensity relates to the amount of energy used to make a given product.

To meet the challenge requirements, facilities had to reduce their energy intensity by 10 percent within a five-year period. Lordstown’s reduction avoided 93,579 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere — the equivalent of electricity used by 10,574 U.S. homes annually.

GM’s Lordstown Complex saved more than $7.5 million in energy costs annually through its efforts.

Lordstown’s energy- saving projects included demolition of obsolete buildings and efficiency improvements to vehicle paint and complex lighting processes.

The goal is to further reduce the environmental footprint of the plant through additional efforts such as the following waste reductions since 2010: scrap metal, 35,993 tons; miscellaneous wood, 963 tons; wood pallets, 5,267 tons; lead acid batteries, 11 tons; concrete, 930 tons; purge solvent, 251 tons; cardboard, 8,084 tons; and plastic, 87 tons.

“Our employees are committed to helping increase our global operations’ energy efficiency,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of sustainability and global regulatory affairs in a statement.

“Energy efficiency reduces our emissions and improves our bottom line, so we are driven to make improvements wherever we can. The EPA was right to recognize our global employees who work diligently to come up with new energy-saving ideas and implement efficiency measures every day. Their commitment is helping leave a smaller carbon footprint,” he said.