Astec joins the Better Plants Program run by the US Department of Energy
Astec has joined the Department of Energy (DOE) Better Plants program that works with leading U.S. manufacturers to achieve voluntary energy performance improvement goals.
The Better Plants program has more than 250 partners with more than 3,600 facilities across the United States. From auto and transportation to food and consumer products, Better Plant partners account for 14% of the U.S. manufacturing footprint.
“We are focused on making a positive impact in our industry and the communities in which we have operations, and that includes doing our part to promote a healthy environment for generations to come,” said Barry Ruffalo, Chief Executive Officeror for Astec. “Our participation in the Better Plants program, along with NAPA’s The Road Forward, reaffirms our commitment to manufacture sustainable solutions for the road building, aggregates and mining industries in plants that are energy efficient.”
Through the Better Plants program, partners create energy savings goals, develop energy management plans, and track and report annual progress. In return, the DOE offers support in the form of technical advice, energy efficiency training, data analyzation, and training sessions to help reduce energy consumption across facilities.
“Astec’s initiative to improve its energy productivity establishes the company as a leader in efficiency and helps strengthen the nation’s manufacturing competitiveness,” said Becca Jones-Albertus, Acting Director, Advanced Manufacturing Office, U.S. Department of Energy.
Astec has taken steps recently to improve the energy efficiency and safety of its plants around the world by installing LED lighting. The company also installed a solar farm at its Johannesburg site and is exploring additional opportunities to use solar in other locations.
“Our partnership with the DOE is yet another step in the right direction to reach the goal of more sustainable manufacturing and improve value for our stakeholders,” Ruffalo said.
