EPA awards Toyota with 9th consecutive Energy Star Partner of the Year award

15-percent reduction in consumption results in 10-year cost savings of $370 million

ERLANGER, Ky. (March 28, 2013) – The Environmental Protection Agency recently recognized Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. with its ninth consecutive Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award. Toyota was recognized for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency.

The award represents the ninth consecutive year in which Toyota has been named partner of the year, the most of any automaker that assembles vehicles in the United States.

Over the past decade, cumulative cost savings at the company’s 13 North American vehicle, engine and parts plants totaled more than $370 million and energy use has been reduced by 15 percent per-vehicle-produced, conserving enough energy to power 27,000 average households for 10 years.

“Our team members’ commitment to reducing energy and water consumption across our operations demonstrates that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen,” said Robin Haugen, general manager of production engineering — plant and environmental engineering at Toyota.

Last summer, eight Toyota manufacturing sites in North America were recognized by the EPA for achieving a 10-percent reduction in energy intensity through its Energy Star Challenge For Industry program, awarded to individual industrial sites. Collectively, the eight sites reduced energy intensity by nearly 24 percent from baseline (energy intensity is measured relative to efficiency improvements in process and equipment).

Examples of energy improvements at Toyota’s manufacturing facilities include:

♦ Lighting retrofits at Toyota’s North American plans produced a total cost savings of more than $1.2 million while also eliminating 10,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

♦ Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana installed an adiabatic humidification system in the paint booth, improving energy efficiency by 35 percent and saving more than $1.1 million annually. An adiabatic system uses atomized high pressure water instead of steam to control humidity & temperature.

♦ Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky installed an adiabatic humidification system in the paint shop that cut steam consumption by more than 65 percent and cut total energy use by 12 percent, resulting in savings of more than $1.4 million annually.

Ten of Toyota’s North American manufacturing plants are zero landfill and the company has also collaborated with more than 180 suppliers across North America to share energy saving ideas and best practices.