Bimbo Bakeries USA in Dubuque, Iowa, and Koch Fertilizer plants in Beatrice, Nebraska, and Ft. Dodge, Iowa, were among the 93 U.S. manufacturing plants that earned the Agency’s ENERGY STAR certification in 2021.
ENERGY STAR-certified plants are verified to be among the most energy-efficient plants within their industries. Bimbo Bakeries is commercial bread and roll baking facility, while the two Koch plants manufacture nitrogenous fertilizer. This was the first-time ENERGY STAR certification for their Beatrice plant.
Together, the 93 ENERGY STAR manufacturing plants prevented over 5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector, which is responsible for nearly a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
"As these companies demonstrate, improving energy efficiency serves to confront climate change while strengthening our economy,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Manufacturing plants that reduce energy consumption as part of the transition to a zero-emissions future save money and create the resiliency needed for the long-term health of their operations, our economy, and our planet.”
Thanks to their superior energy performance over a single year, these plants avoided nearly 90 trillion BTUs of energy consumption and prevented emissions equal to the annual energy use of nearly 650,000 American homes.
Since the first plants were certified in 2006, ENERGY STAR-certified plants have cumulatively saved manufacturers over $7 billion on energy bills when compared to average-performing facilities.
Energy efficiency cuts energy waste and is an essential action for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for both the United States’ Long-Term StrategyEXITEXIT EPA WEBSITE and the sustainability of the manufacturing sector.
To assess energy performance, plants use EPA’s ENERGY STAR energy performance indicators (EPIs) or, in the case of petroleum refineries, the Solomon Associates Energy Intensity Index (Solomon-EII™) scoring system. To be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification, plants must score 75 or higher on these 100-point scales, indicating that they are more energy efficient than at least 75% of similar facilities nationwide. ENERGY STAR certification is available for 20 manufacturing sectors, from cement and steel to glass and commercial bakeries.
A list of all ENERGY STAR-certified manufacturing plants for 2021 is available on the Celebrating 2021 Certified Plants page
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