3M Celebrates 10-Year
Record of EPA Energy Star
Sustained Excellence Award
As environmental concerns and energy efficiency become increasingly top
of mind for many people around the
world, corporate social responsibility
migrates from just a watchword to a
strategic initiative for responsible institutions to demonstrate their commitment to these ideals. Together, the
actions of consumers, academia, and
industry can tremendously impact energy expenditures and conservation.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has recognized 3M for a
decade of energy management achievements with the EPA ENERGY STAR
Sustained Excellence Award for the
10th year in a row. 3M is the only industrial company in the world to attain
this privilege.
“It is an honor that the EPA has recognized 3M and provided the framework for corporate energy efficiency,”
said Steve Schultz, 3M’s Corporate
Energy Manager. “3M is known for its
commitment to innovation, and that
commitment doesn’t just apply to the
products we invent. We have spent the
past 10 years, and in fact many years before that, continually seeking out ways
that we can improve our processes, raw
materials and more in order to achieve
greater efficiency and resource savings.
Moreover, we endeavor to share our
best practices with our constituents in
an effort to pay it forward.”
This year’s award puts 3M in ex-
clusive territory, as no other industrial
company has received the “Sustained
Excellence” recognition-the EPA’s highest
ENERGY STAR award-as many times.
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
in 1992 as a voluntary market-based
partnership to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions through increased efficiency.
The annual ENERGY STAR Sustained
Excellence Award honors organizations
that have made outstanding contribu-
tions to protecting the environment
through best practices and organization-
wide energy savings.
Adding to its achievements, 3M also
received Xcel Energy’s 2013 Energy
Efficiency Expo Award for having the
highest gas savings by a commercial customer (nearly 1.8 million therms).
A sampling of 2013 efforts for which
EPA recognized 3M includes:
•Implementation of 252 projects,
which resulted in savings of $8.79
million and 61,700 metric tons
(MT) of CO2
• Development of a strategic initiative
to identify and implement projects
to make step-change improvements
in greenhouse gas emissions and en-
ergy efficiency
•Formation of Centers of
Excellence to integrate
all aspects of sustainabil-
ity into business strategies
across the company
• Bringing energy-saving innovations
to diverse markets, and engaging
communities globally in energy and
sustainability dialogues
These achievements are made possi-
ble with the expertise of 3M employees
from around the world. To celebrate
their accomplishments, 3M is mark-
ing Earth Day today with a number
of initiatives. Jean Lupinacci, Chief of
the ENERGY STAR Commercial and
Industrial Branch at the EPA, will ad-
dress employees on industrial energy
efficiency and its role in protecting
the environment. Tesla cars, which
are made with several 3M technolo-
gies, will be displayed at the compa-
ny’s world headquarters in St. Paul
to showcase next-generation, sustain-
able autos. During the day’s events,
employees will also see examples of
sustainable products, like 3M Novec
Engineered Fluids; 3M Window Films;
and 3M LED Advanced Lighting.
In celebration of 3M’s bronze award
from the League of American Bicyclists
recognizing 3M as a “Bicycle Friendly
Company,” employees are encouraged
to bike to work on Earth Day. Seventy
employees participated in the bike to
