The American Chemistry Council (ACC) recently honored 16 of its member companies for implementing energy-efficiency improvements in 2010. Together, these improvements saved 14.8 trillion Btu -- enough energy to power all the homes in a city the size of Akron, Ohio, for one year -- with the added benefit of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. "Chemistry empowers advances in energy efficiency and renewable energy," said ACC President and CEO Cal Dooley. "Through these innovations, Americans save energy every day. Meanwhile, our industry is committed to supporting technologies that improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions in our own operations. Thanks to projects like these, we've enhanced energy efficiency by 36% and reduced GHG emissions by 23% since 1990." The 2011 Energy Efficiency Awards were given in four categories:
- The "Energy Efficiency Program" award is given to companies with broad programs to achieve energy-efficiency improvements, with components such as establishing energy teams, goal setting, communications, management support, and recognition.
- The "Significant Improvement in Manufacturing" award is given to companies that improve energy efficiency in their manufacturing operations through technical innovations, creative projects, or novel procedures or actions.
- The "Environmental Impact" award is given for initiatives with substantial environmental benefits, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to improvements in energy efficiency.
- The "Non-Manufacturing Improvement" award is given for improvements resulting from energy-efficient lighting, insulation, and other building improvements, and other non-manufacturing energy improvements.
Award winners were announced and recognized at the opening of the 2011 Responsible Care Conference and Expo in Miami, Florida, on April 17.
And the winners are...
(An asterisk denotes a project of "Exceptional Merit.")
Energy Efficiency Program - Corporate/Business Unit o BASF Corp., for Corporate Energy Efficiency Improvement Goal o The Dow Chemical Co., for $100 Million Investment in Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency Program - Plant Site
o The Dow Chemical Co., for Texas City Operations Superior Energy Performance* o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Beaumont Chemical Plant, for Plant Energy Program* o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Baytown Olefins Plant, for BOP Energy Efficiency Improvements o Marathon Petroleum Co., LLC, Canton Refinery, for Comprehensive Energy Program Results
Significant Improvement in Manufacturing - Operating Unit
o BASF Corp., Geismar, LA, for Ethylene Oxide Plant Multivariable Predictive Control Improvements o BASF Corp., Geismar, LA, for Geismar Polyol Plant Steam Reduction o Bayer Corp., Baytown, TX, for Baytown TDI Unit Improvement* o DuPont, Sabine Ethylene Plant, for Sabine Ethylene Furnace Optimized Burner Replacement o DuPont, Memphis, TN, for Optimize Natural Gas Usage at Memphis, TN, Facility o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Baton Rouge Chemical Plant, for BRCP 2010 Furnace Energy / Reliability Improvement Team o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Baton Rouge Chemical Plant, for Coproduct Unit Energy Optimizations o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Baton Rouge Chemical Plant, for Aromatics DMC Application o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Beaumont Polyethylene Plant, for Cycle Gas Cooler Cleaning Method o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Beaumont Chemical Plant, for Energy Reductions During Safe Park Operations o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Beaumont Chemical Plant, for Steam Cracker Furnace Optimization o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Beaumont Chemical Plant, for Steam Cracker Conbox Wash o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Beaumont Chemical Plant, for Paraxylene Dynamic Matrix Control (DMC) o PPG Industries, Inc. Lake Charles, LA, Chlor/Alkali Manufacturing Facility, for Reduction in Refrigeration Energy o SABIC Innovative Plastics, Mount Vernon, IN, for Mount Vernon Process Simplification Project o Solutia, Inc., for Solvent Recovery Improvements
Significant Improvement in Manufacturing - Plant Site o Albemarle Corp., Pasadena, TX, for The Specialties Flare Calorimeter Project o BASF Corp., Greenville, OH, for Greenville Energy Optimization Initiative o Carus Corp., LaSalle, IL, for LaSalle Energy Efficiency Improvement Program* o DuPont, Belle, WV, for Capture Condensate Energy from Belle, WV, Facility o DuPont, Morses Mill, NJ, for Novel Recuperator Cleaning Technique Enables Higher Efficiency Operation o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Baton Rouge Chemical Plant, for Steam System Optimization o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Beaumont Chemical Plant, for Beaumont Chem Plant Energy Real Time Optimizer o Nalco, Ellwood City South Plant, for Ellwood City Cooling System Improvements o Occidental Chemical Corp., Ingleside, TX, for Steam Loss Reduction o Occidental Chemical Corp., Muscle Shoals, AL, for Electricity Reduction o PPG Industries, Inc., Lake Charles, LA, Chlor/Alkali Manufacturing Facility, for Steam Leak Repair Program o SABIC Innovative Plastics, Selkirk, NY, for Steam Turbine Generator* o W.R. Grace & Co., Davison Div., Columbia, MD, for Dryer Air Flow Reduction-6849/Water Heater Gas Optimization 9499 o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Beaumont, TX, Chemical Plant, for Propylene Refrigeration Bypass
Environmental Impact - Operating Unit
o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., for BRCP Vistalon EPDM Dilution Slurry Optimization
Environmental Impact - Plant Site
o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Baton Rouge Polyolefins Plant, for Utilization of Landfill Gas in Steam-Producing Boiler o El Dorado Nitrogen, L.P., Nitric Acid Plant, for N2O to Nitrogen Gas Program
Non-Manufacturing Improvement - Corporate Business Unit
o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., for Headquarters Building Energy Efficiency Program/BRCP Building Lighting Upgrades o ExxonMobil Chemical Co., for BRCP Building Lighting Upgrades
Non-Manufacturing Improvement - Plant Site
o Dow Corning Corp., Kendallville, IN, for Lighting Can Be Significant! ACC member companies nominate projects for recognition. The judging committee is comprised of members of ACC's Energy Team, including representatives from ACC and the National Association of Chemical Distributors, and additional experts in the field of energy efficiency.