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Energy Star Award® (Roanoke cement plant, Virginia, U.S.A.)
Energy Star® is a U.S.A. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program that identifies and establishes the benchmarks for superior energy performance. TITAN America has been an Energy Star® Partner since 2008. As such, it has made a commitment to protect the environment through the continuous improvement of its energy performance. TITAN believes that an organization-wide energy management approach will help enhance its financial health, increase its value, and aid in preserving the environment for future generations.
In 2011, the Roanoke Cement Company, a subsidiary of TITAN America LLC, was awarded the Energy Star® Award for a fifth consecutive year by EPA. The Troutville plant, the only cement plant in Virginia, was the first cement plant to be certified with an Energy Star® in 2011. A cement plant is eligible for the Energy Star® if the plant achieves energy performance within the top 25 percent nationally using the Energy Star® performance scale.
Furthermore, Roanoke Cement actualized the “Plant A Star™” program, encouraged by EPA. The program is intended to provide customers with technical assistance and energy management training. The Plant Energy Team conducts presentations and energy audits, demonstrating the benefits of energy management, tracking and benchmarking, while showcasing the available resources provided by the Energy Star® Program to its customers. Roanoke Cement saw the benefits of a systems assessment, and reassessment of its energy use with proactive maintenance, repair and replacement has produced demonstrable efficiencies.
To date, TITAN America/Roanoke Cement has invested approximately 3,000 hours in helping 15 business partners fast-track their energy savings initiatives in 2010. Conservative estimates indicate that these businesses could see a 15% reduction in electrical energy consumption in their first year, applying the skills developed through this program. Based on these estimates, the Plant a Star™ Program helped save enough electrical energy to power 150 households last year.
Long-term goals have been established, calling for a 90,000 MWh (33%) reduction in energy utilization – the equivalent of the production of 700,000 tons of cement (or enough energy saved to power 8,000 homes for one year) across the TITAN America organization by 2015.
“TITAN America continues to lead by example,” says Elizabeth Dutrow, Director of Industrial Sector Partnerships with Energy Star®. “Achieving a national level energy certification for its Virginia cement plant demonstrates leadership. But Roanoke Cement hasn’t stopped there. The company is reaching beyond what is expected to help others to achieve similar heights. Roanoke Cement’s outreach program for customers, “Plant A Star™”, is a gold standard for cement manufacturers to emulate in helping their customers, the ready-mix producers, to improve energy performance.” “TITAN is committed to using energy in the most efficient and cost-effective manner”, says Aris Papadopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of TITAN America. “We strive to improve environmental performance to lead energy management within the cement industry.”
“Our Plant Energy Team recognized that businesses are struggling with increased burdens and need to address their energy consumption to remain competitive,” says Kevin Baird, Roanoke Cement, Plant Manager.