Step by Step, GM Further Improves Building Efficiency

May 15, 2013 11:15 AM ET

GM BeyondNow

ENERGY STAR® Chief Jean Lupinacci believes any building can take simple steps to improve its energy efficiency.

Take GM. Through efforts like tracking energy use, making the most of heating and cooling ventilation systems, and turning off lights when unneeded, three of our facilities achieved efficiency gains that earned them recognition in the 2012 ENERGY STAR® Battle of the Buildings competition.

Together they cut energy use by more than 20,000 metric tons of CO2 and saved more than $4.5 million in energy costs.  

The star performers were GM Customer Care and Aftersales facilities, ranging from the East to the West coast. Our Martinsburg, West Virginia facility cut its water use in half, and our Ypsilanti, Michigan and Fontana operations reduced energy use by 31 and 30 percent, respectively.

“All of the participants in the ENERGY STAR® National Building Competition are finding more and more ways to cut energy use, saving thousands of dollars and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Lupinacci.

GM is committed to energy efficiency worldwide. Earlier this year we were named a 2013 EPA ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence for corporate energy management. We also recently took a stance that addressing climate change is good for business by signing the Climate Declaration organized by sustainable business advocacy group Ceres and its Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy coalition.