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General Motors Recognized by EPA with Fifth ENERGY STAR Award

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GM earns fifth EPA ENERGY STAR Award

General Motors just announced that it has earned its fifth ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award from the Environmental Protection Agency, in recognition of the company’s eco-friendly commitment to superior energy efficiency. As part of this commitment, GM reduced energy use at its US manufacturing plants by 5.6% per vehicle in 2015.

The results were good not just for the environment, but for General Motors’ profits, as well. Energy savings lead to financial savings, and GM reports that the company has avoided $237 million in energy costs since 2010 by engaging 73 of its facilities in an EPA ENERGY STAR energy-reduction challenge. GM has earned ENERGY STAR certification at 11 of those facilities, marking them as more efficient than similar buildings in the country.

GM says it is reinvesting that saved money in new product innovations and offerings.

“GM reinvested $7.4 billion to develop safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles with reduced emissions last year,” said GM executive vice president of Global Manufacturing Jim DeLuca. “We’re continually in pursuit of innovative technologies to reduce the environmental impact of driving, as well as practices that lessen the carbon footprint of manufacturing those vehicles.”

GM partnered with EPA ENERGY STAR over 20 years ago, and continues to use many of its programs to conserve energy. For example, through the use of EPA SmartWay, GM says it was able to optimize its shipping routes and avoid 116,000 tons of carbon emissions last year.

“By continued collaboration with ENERGY STAR, GM is helping Americans save money, save energy and do their part to reduce our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions that exacerbate climate change,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said in a statement.