May 09, 2014 | Valley Forge, PA USA

Saint-Gobain on Track to Achieve 25 Percent Energy Savings Through Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge

Energy Dept. recognizes building materials company during Better Buildings Challenge two-year anniversary.

Saint-Gobain, one of the world's largest building materials companies, has been recognized by the Energy Department for its achievements in the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge and for reducing energy intensity by 10 percent across its 118 U.S. manufacturing plants since the start of the Challenge. The announcement was made at the first National Better Buildings Summit on May 8, along with the release of second year accomplishments and results. Better Buildings Challenge Partners are demonstrating progress to achieve 20 percent or more energy savings in 10 years, with annual energy savings of 2.5 percent or $300 million.

"By committing to cut energy use, Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge partners are demonstrating how businesses and manufacturers are reducing our nation's energy bill, creating American jobs, and protecting the environment," said Dr. David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. "With commitments representing more than 600 plants and facilities, these partners are leading the way to a cleaner energy economy."

The Better Buildings Challenge is a national leadership initiative launched by President Obama in 2011 with the goal of making American commercial, multifamily, and industrial buildings 20 percent more energy efficient in ten years. The Better Buildings Challenge supports President Obama's broader goal of doubling American energy productivity by 2030 while motivating corporate and public sector partners across the country to save energy through commitments and investments. 

"For Saint-Gobain, reducing energy consumption goes beyond good business sense; it drives innovation and most importantly, it protects natural resources in the communities in which our plants operate and our employees and customers live," said John Crowe, President and CEO of Saint-Gobain and its largest North American subsidiary, CertainTeed Corporation. "We are honored the Department of Energy has recognized the energy-efficiency initiatives at our plants where we manufacture building materials that enable people and businesses around the world to live more efficiently, too," continued Crowe.

For example, CertainTeed, Saint-Gobain's North American construction materials subsidiary, furthered its commitment to energy efficiency and the Better Plants Challenge by building a 500,000 square foot state-of-the-art Gypsum wallboard manufacturing plant near Roxboro, NC. The facility not only produces an important material in building construction, but also utilizes multiple energy efficiency innovations that contribute to a 10 percent reduction in both energy consumption and costs compared to conventional wallboard production plants.

At the National Summit, the Energy Department announced that in 2013, Better Buildings Challenge partners, including Saint-Gobain, successfully reduced the energy use of their buildings and industrial facilities by more than 2.5 percent. These energy savings are the equivalent of about $100 million a year. Since 2011, partners have committed more than 3 billion square feet and 600 manufacturing plants and facilities to energy efficiency upgrades, and have shared energy performance results for more than 9,000 facilities. Of these facilities, more than 2,100 have been improved by 20 percent or more, and more than 4,500 by at least 10 percent since their baseline year. Through participation, Partners have saved 36 trillion BTUs and $300 million since the Better Buildings Challenge began. 

In the past year, there are more than 190 organizations participating from local governments, school districts and universities, to commercial real estate, healthcare and manufacturing companies. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, Partners have created and shared more than 110 solutions including showcase projects and implementation models to help the marketplace move more quickly to adopt energy efficiency measures. In addition, the Challenge includes a network of financial and utility allies to assist partners in overcoming financial and data access barriers across the marketplace.

For a detailed progress report on the Better Buildings Challenge and to find out more about the Challenge participants and their energy efficiency projects, visit: www.energy.gov/betterbuildingschallenge

About Saint-Gobain in North America

Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building materials company, has its North American headquarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. As the world leader in sustainable habitat, Saint-Gobain is committed to inventing solutions to help professionals and communities around the world build and renovate comfortable, healthy, economical and energy-efficient buildings. The company has more than 265 locations in North America and approximately 15,000 employees. In the United States and Canada, Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $7.9 billion in 2013.

Recognized as a 2009 and 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Saint-Gobain earned the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award, the highest level of recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. For more information about Saint-Gobain in North America, connect with the company on Facebook and Twitter.

About CertainTeed Corporation in North America

CertainTeed Corporation is North America's leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, gypsum and ceilings and is Saint-Gobain's largest North American subsidiary. CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 5,700 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada with sales of approximately $3.3 billion in 2013.

Press Contacts:

Saint-Gobain in North America:
Dina Silver Pokedoff, APR
610-341-7031 (office)
484-919-2103 (mobile)
dina.pokedoff@saint-gobain.com

Brownstein Group for Saint-Gobain in North America:
Nicole Gainer
267-238-4147 (office)
856-266-1707 (mobile)
ngainer@brownsteingroup.com