The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA), with its 2011 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency and management. TEMA received the award at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. today.
“TEMA has earned EPA’s highest ENERGY STAR award – the 2011 Sustained Excellence Award,” said Elizabeth Craig, acting director of EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Programs. “TEMA’s long term leadership and commitment to energy efficiency demonstrates the types of accomplishments that we can all achieve in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting our global environment. We look forward to their continued partnership and leadership.”
Today’s recognition marks TEMA’s seventh consecutive award. In addition, TEMA has partnered with the EPA to fulfill its commitment of environmental excellence across its manufacturing facilities in the United States.
“Our objective is to manufacture vehicles in harmony with the environment which takes a great level of responsibility and commitment,” said Robin Haugen, TEMA’s production engineering general manager. “It is thanks to our team members’ daily efforts that we are able to reduce our carbon footprint with every vehicle that rolls off our manufacturing lines year after year.”
Examples of energy improvements at TEMA’s manufacturing facilities include:
- •Reducing total energy use by 13 percent per vehicle produced since FY2002 while expanding and adding new facilities;
- •Reducing water usage by 18 percent per vehicle produced since FY2001 through no-cost and low-cost improvements;
Energy improvements at Toyota manufacturing facilities have saved more than $20 million annually and reduced CO2 emission by almost 150,000 metric tons, equal to 19,000 homes.
Since 2006, Toyota’s U.S. manufacturing operations have received 18 Energy Star Plant Awards from the U.S. EPA, recognizing each plant’s energy performance over the past year and scoring in the top 25 percent of its industry.
The 2011 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
