The ready-mix concrete plants were able to reduce their energy intensity by an average of 21 percent, far surpassing the required 10 percent in five years in order to meet the challenge.

In 1992, the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched ENERGY STAR, a voluntary program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products and buildings. Since then, the program has been a driving force in encouraging a range of industries to deliver environmental benefits and financial value through superior energy efficiency, and affords national recognition to the buildings that meet their high standards.

CEMEX is a corporate partner of the ENERGY STAR program in the United States, focusing on strategic energy management and the importance of demonstrating environmental leadership for future generations. In 2007, three of our facilities became the first cement plants to receive the ENERGY STAR certification, and two years later we were named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. Five of our cement plants have now earned ENERGY STAR certification by achieving energy performance within the top 25 percent of cement plants in the United States. Continuing that tradition, 12 of our ready-mix concrete plants in Texas have achieved the EPA ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, a global call to action for industrial sites to reduce their energy intensity.

According to Scott Ducoff, head of the Texas/New Mexico region for CEMEX in the United States, these achievements further highlight how CEMEX invests in the future of energy conservation and how we go about conducting our business in our communities. “The Texas/New Mexico Region actually leads the United States in the number of ready-mix plants that have achieved the Challenge for Industry, now we have a total of 12 in Texas,” Ducoff said. Two CEMEX ready-mix concrete plants in New Mexico had also met the challenge previously.

In order to meet the Challenge, the plants had to reduce their energy intensity by at least 10 percent in five years or less, and according to LEED Green Associate Karen P. Butler, our plants far surpassed that goal. At an awards ceremony for the Texas plants, she addressed the crowd of CEMEX team members, community leaders and customers, praising CEMEX’s commitment to sustainability and leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the industry.

Butler congratulated CEMEX on their outstanding achievement for the 12 Texas plants that met the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry. She said, “These plants reduced their energy intensity on average by more than 21 percent and, on behalf of EPA, thank you CEMEX for the work you’ve done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our planet.”

“This is the type of initiative that fits perfectly with the CEMEX sustainability agenda,” said Ignacio Madridejos, CEMEX President in the United States. “With this initiative, we are creating value for our shareholders by reducing our energy bills, but at the same time, we are contributing to the betterment of our communities and society through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and using fewer resources.”

The 12 ready-mix concrete plants in Texas that met the challenge are: Arcola, Cutten, Tomball, Webster, Baytown, LaPorte, Rosenberg, Hockley, Section 10, Edinburg, Harlingen and Mission.

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries. Celebrating its 110th anniversary, CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future.