GM Lordstown meets energy-reduction challenge

Staff report

LORDSTOWN

General Motors’ Lords-town Complex is one of 63 facilities to meet a voluntary energy-reduction challenge from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The plant was able to cut its energy intensity by 42 percent in less than three years, according to a release from GM. This the second- consecutive year the plant received the recognition.

Energy used per unit of production had to be reduced by 10 percent within five years to meet the designation. Lordstown’s reduction avoided 34,403 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere — the equivalent of electricity use by 5,150 homes annually.

The Lordstown facility avoided more than $5.4 million in energy costs annually through its efforts.

To achieve the Energy Star recognition, employees at Lordstown used energy- saving tactics such as replacing Metal Halide fixtures and T12 fluorescent fixtures with energy-efficient LED High Bay fixtures reducing the lighting load of the original fixtures by 80 percent. Additional savings were achieved by controlling the operation of the lights using an energy- management software to schedule, turn off and reduce the foot candles of the LED lights according to production schedules.

“Our employees understand the commitment it takes to be as energy- efficient as possible in our day-to-day operations,” said Bob Parcell, plant manager, in a statement. “Through a diligent environmental process, we have instilled a sense of responsibility to the environment that goes beyond our location in Northeast Ohio.”

The plant plans to further reduce its environmental footprint through improved water conservation, better monitoring of trash and upgrading air compressors.