CalPortland cement plant earns EPA’s ENERGY STAR®

The CalPortland Rillito cement plant has earned the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR^® for Superior Energy Efficiency. The award recognises that Rillito performs in the top 25% for energy efficiency compared to similar plants nationwide and meets the strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.

ENERGY STAR^® was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. With the assistance of ENERGY STAR^®, American families and businesses have saved nearly US$230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion t of greenhouse gas emissions over the past twenty years.

"CalPortland is pleased to accept EPA’s ENERGY STAR^® certification in recognition of our energy efficiencyefforts,” said David Bittel, Plant Manager. "Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs.”

CalPortland improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically across the entire organisation and by making cost-effective improvements to its plants.

To earn the certification, CalPortland took the following actions:

• Utilising an extensive Energy Management programme to promote energy efficiency best practices at each of its facilities and for all of its employees.
• Installation of a kiln expert control system to reduce the kiln process fuel intensity at the Rillito cement plant.
• Completion of the installation of a new gas conditioning tower with a baghouse modification at the Rillito cement plant that led to savings of 2.6 million kWh/year.

“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s industrial facilities is critical to protecting our environment,“ said Jean Lupinacci, Chief of the ENERGY STAR^® Commercial & Industrial Branch. “From the plant floor to the boardroom, organisations are leading the way by making their facilities more efficient and earning EPA’s ENERGY STAR^® certification.”

Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/21112013/calportland_cement_plant_earns_epas_energy_star_439/