SKOKIE, Ill. – On April 29, 2008, the California Portland Cement Co., cement plant in Colton, Calif., received the Energy Efficiency Award from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine as part of the 2008 Cement Industry Energy and Environment Awards, honoring sustainable manufacturing practices.  

The award was presented at PCA’s Spring Meeting in Chicago.

The Energy Efficiency award recognizes a plant’s energy planning, applications of efficiency technologists and practices, and climate change mitigation efforts.  The Colton plant also received this honor at the 2004 awards.

In 2007, the Colton plant scored 100 percent on the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR® benchmarking program and received the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award.  The California Portland Cement Company (CPCC) plant’s efficiency program has resulted in major energy reductions, preventing the emission of tens of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide and saving the company thousand of dollars. In 2007, CPCC added a corporate director of energy services who, with other senior executives and plant staff, supervises energy conservation efforts. Energy efficiency projects have included air leakage reduction for waste heat boilers, drive belt replacement, high efficiency motor installation, tighter cement grinding controls, and kiln operation improvements.

“Finding ways to reduce both energy needs and reliance on fossil fuels is a top priority for cement companies,” said Brian McCarthy, PCA president/CEO. “Practices like those at the Colton plant put this commitment into action.”

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.

History of the Awards
The awards program was created in 2000 by the Portland Cement Association as part of its renewed environment and energy strategic plan for the U.S. cement industry.  PCA and Cement Americas magazine presented the first Cement Industry Environmental Awards in 2002 to the winners for 2001.  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 awards represent independent groups such as Cement Americas magazine, the Cement Association of Canada, World Resources Institute, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the World Wildlife Fund.

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.