Sources: CalPortland Co., Glendora, Calif.; Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff
A 1.1 percent energy intensity reduction across ready mixed concrete, cement and aggregate operations, totaling $682,000 in savings, has netted CalPortland the 2017 EPA Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award. Efficiencies attained in 2016 bring the West Coast producer to 15.6 percent energy intensity reduction and $96 million cumulative savings since 2003.
“CalPortland takes great pride in our partnership with Energy Star. Being named Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence is a tremendous honor,” says CEO Allen Hamblen. Earning Energy Star honors for a 13th consecutive year, unsurpassed by building materials peers, he adds, “is a tribute to the dedication of our employees who are proud to participate in programs that improve our energy efficiency, reduce emissions and contribute to protecting our environment.”
Projects behind the 2017 Partner Award include:
- $2 million ready mixed plant upgrade that saw light-emitting diode lighting, premium efficiency motor and shutdown control installations, plus improved truck idling management—combining for $50,000-plus in first-year savings.
- $25 million in capital upgrades for Rillito and Mojave cement plant preheater duct and clinker cooler equipment, plus a $14 million Anchorage terminal storage dome.
- Launch of the “CalPortland Energy Cup” competition to compare and quantify energy practices and performance of the company’s three cement plants.
The 2017 Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award is presented to a variety of companies or organizations for ongoing leadership throughout the Energy Star program, including energy-efficient products, services, new homes, and buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors. CalPortland will be recognized later this month during an EPA- and U.S. Department of Energy-hosted gathering in Washington, D.C.