SKOKIE, Ill. –The Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine acknowledged the CEMEX USA cement plant in Clinchfield, Georgia, as part of the 2014 Cement Industry Energy & Environmental Awards honoring sustainable manufacturing practices. The plant was a finalist in the Energy Efficiency category. The Energy Efficiency category honors plant’s energy planning, applications of efficiency technologies and practices, and climate change mitigation efforts.
The Clinchfield plant continues to be the leader in energy management, alternative fuels substitution, and the communication of ENERGY STAR® messages. As part of the Energy Management Program, the Clinchfield plant has formulated a multi-disciplinary Site Energy Team to carryout site energy management activities. The team consists of members from all the departments who have a role in the energy consumption plant. They have a range of responsibilities, such as finalizing energy performance goals for the plant and defining strategies for achieving the goals.
In 2013, Cemex Clinchfield continued to explore innovative solutions to manage energy consumption and costs more efficiently. One of the methods considered is participation in demand side management or power demand response offered by local utilities. Through their participation in these programs, it has effectively contributed to power distribution grid reliability, helping to avert chances of rolling power outages, or blackouts, in local communities. The Cement Industry Energy & Environmental Awards honor individual cement facilities that exemplify the spirit of continuous environmental improvement and support this spirit with action. These plants go beyond government regulations and local laws to ensure that their processes contributed to making their communities better places to live and work. Five categories are recognized: Outreach, Environmental Performance, Land Stewardship, Innovation, and Energy Efficiency. Additionally, PCA presents a special honor to a plant demonstrating excellence in multiple categories.
The award program was created in 2000 by the PCA as part of its environment and energy strategic plan for the U.S. cement industry. The awards honor activities conducted during the previous calendar year, and the program is open to any cement manufacturing plant in North America. Judges for the 2014 awards Program included representatives from U.S. EPA-ENERGY STAR, Wildlife Habitat Council, U.S. Geological Survey, World Wildlife Fund, and Cement Americas.
About PCA
Based in Washington, D.C., with offices in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. More information on PCA programs is available at www.cement.org.