Four Corning facilities recently celebrated their successes in reducing energy and water usage. The plants exceeded energy efficiency goals set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® Challenge for Industry. To meet the challenge, industrial sites must increase energy efficiency by 10% in five years or less.
Corning Life Sciences (CLS) – Durham, N.C.
Projects contributing to the Durham plant’s Challenge for Industry achievement include:
- Installed a new process cooling loop system to allow continuous water flow without the water needing to be drained
- Installed a new demand flow control system to ensure the plant only makes the amount of chilled water that is needed
- Replaced all 2,100 light bulbs in the plant with LEDs
- Began using an ultrasonic inspection system to locate compressed air leaks and verify corrective measures after repairs are made
“The Durham plant’s ability to reduce its energy efficiency by 13% in two years would not have been possible without the hard work and daily dedication of the Global Energy Management (GEM) team members,” said Van Hursey, site energy manager and facilities coordinator, CLS Durham.
Corning Optical Communications (COC) – Winston-Salem, N.C.
Energy-saving projects contributing to the Winston-Salem plant’s Challenge for Industry achievement include:
- Replaced approximately 5,000 lighting fixtures with LEDs
- Replaced the plant’s two air compressors with a more energy efficient air compressor system
- Installed a new buffering chiller system to utilize the facility’s existing chilled water system
COC Hickory Manufacturing and Technology Center – Hickory, N.C
Energy and water savings projects contributing to the Hickory plant’s Challenge for Industry achievement include:
- Created a team of production associates to detect unwanted air leaks throughout the plant
- Installed an ion exchange water treatment system to reduced waste water in the plant
COC – Gebze, Turkey
Energy and water savings projects contributing to the Gebze plant’s Challenge for Industry achievement include:
- Replaced the plant’s central chiller unit with a new model. The new system uses 30% less
energy than the former chiller unit - Installed a new central ventilation system that is more energy efficient and saves the plant money
- Replaced approximately 2,000 lighting fixtures with LEDs
To meet energy- and water-saving goals, Corning’s GEM program has teams at each of Corning’s global manufacturing plants that research and implement projects and programs to help reduce the facilities’ environmental footprint. Through the GEM program, Corning has improved its energy productivity by more than 35% since 2006.
Since 2014, Corning has celebrated 29 ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry achievers. Out of 132 companies that have taken the challenge to date, Corning is ranked third in participation among industrial manufacturers.
