Three GM Buildings Take Home Top Honors From EPA

DETROIT--May 10, 2013: Three General Motors’ buildings are being recognized for superior performance in the EPA’s 2012 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings.

Those buildings are:

Martinsburg (W.Va.) Customer Care and Aftersales was named a Top Water Performer for reducing water use by 51 percent. Ypsilanti (Mich.) Customer Care and Aftersales was ranked No. 14 overall for reducing energy use by 31 percent, resulting in more than $4.5 million in energy cost savings. Fontana (Calif.) Customer Care and Aftersales was recognized for 20 Percent or Better Improvement, reducing energy usage by more than 30 percent.

“Through diligent monitoring of our energy use and continuous improvement activities, the buildings that completed the competition cut energy use by more than 20,000 metric tons of CO2,” said Al Hildreth, GM’s company energy manager. “The continued recognition of our energy efficient work is testament to the work our team does daily to improve the efficiency of our plants and facilities.”

GM reduced its energy use through a variety of strategies, including tracking energy use, making the most of heating and cooling ventilation systems, and controlling light levels and turning lights off when unneeded. Water reductions were possible from leak repair and conservation.

“The impressive results of the third-annual National Building Competition are proof positive that any building can take simple steps to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings where we all work, play and learn,” said Jean Lupinacci, chief of ENERGY STAR for commercial buildings and industrial plants. “All of the participants in the Energy Star National Building Competition are finding more and more ways to cut energy use, saving thousands of dollars and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Earlier this year, the EPA named General Motors its 2013 ENERGY STARŪ Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence for improving energy efficiency 11 percent in the United States from 2011, while it was announced that 54 GM plants met the EPA ENERGY STARŪ Challenge for Industry.

For more information on GM’s environmental commitment, visit its sustainability report and environmental blog.