Titan America’s Roanoke Cement Co. in Virginia has earned its 7th consecutive ENERGY STAR award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award signifies that the plant performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets strict performance levels set by the EPA.
“It is rewarding to know that small adjustments in air pressure, for example, can result in huge savings over the course of the year and add up to a tangible difference,” said Stephen Knox, electrical manager at the plant. “Energy savings benefits the company by reducing our energy costs while also contributing to environmental sustainability by reducing overall energy demand.”
Roanoke Cement Co. has reduced its plant air usage, installed a VFD on a major fan, reduced the use of heaters throughout the plant and increased automation throughout the plant in order to lower energy consumption. These efforts have resulted in a reduction of more than 2 MW in energy used since entering the certification program in 2007.
According to the company, future initiatives to continue this progress in energy efficiency include: reducing or eliminating the use of inefficient or unnecessary lighting; maximizing the use of alternative fuels; and targeting other fans as candidates for VFD upgrades.
