During Interphex 2009, held March 17 - 19 in New York, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the first four pharmaceutical facilities to earn the agency’s Energy Star, given to companies that perform in the top 25% of energy use nationwide. The plants earning EPA recognition: Allergan (Waco, TX), AstraZeneca (Westborough, MA), AstraZeneca (Newark, DE), and Schering-Plough (Cleveland, TN).
These plants qualified for the Energy Star by earning a rating of 75 or higher, based on a series of performance indicators for pharmaceutical plants. EPA reports that compared to average plants, Energy Star facilities save enough energy to power 3,212 single-family homes, are 34% more efficient on average, emit less carbon, and save money.
The Energy Star guidelines were established by EPA to help organizations reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Energy Star is a voluntary, market-based partnership that helps businesses and consumers save money and protect the environment.
In the pharmaceutical sector, the EPA works with firms throughout the U.S. to develop an Energy Performance Indicator, which is available to all pharmaceutical companies, enabling them to benchmark their energy performance against others in the industry. EPA estimates that the pharmaceutical sector spends more than $800 million on energy annually.
-Jim Butschli
