Buzzi Unicem Signal Mountain, the cement production plant on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, was one of three Tennessee businesses recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday for superior energy performance in 2014.
EPA saluted 70 businesses with its Energy Star certification for implementing energy efficiency measures last year. Collectively, the manufacturing plants cut their energy bills by $725 million, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 8 million metric tons -- equivalent to the annual total energy use of more than 650,000 households.
"Energy Star-certified manufacturing plants are leading their industries by advancing energy efficiency and making cost-saving improvements while combating climate change," EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said in a statement Tuesday. "Through their work with EPA, the 2014 Energy Star manufacturing plants are demonstrating that making sustainability and energy efficiency improvements is a smart business decision."
Energy Star certified plants are independently verified on an annual basis to have reached the top 25 percent of energy performance for their industries nationwide.