On February 13th, Schneider Electric announced its participation in the White House-initiated "Better Buildings Challenge" project, committing to reduce energy consumption by 25% across its 40 factories (with a total floor area of approximately 9 million square feet).
This project is part of the "Better Buildings Initiative" launched by the White House last February, aimed at calling on CEOs of various enterprises, university presidents, and state and local leaders to create jobs in America through improving energy efficiency. "This project is a model of government-enterprise cooperation, leading our country towards a more energy-efficient, safe, and stable future," said Chris Curtis, CEO of Schneider Electric North America. "We are creating jobs while reducing energy consumption because active energy efficiency management requires more renovation projects and construction activities, and we create employment through these activities, achieving a win-win situation."
Schneider Electric commits to achieving an annual energy saving of 2.5% over the next ten years. From 2004 to now, the company has already reduced energy consumption by over 20% using its own technology, saving $18 million in expenses.
A manufacturing plant of Schneider Electric in Smyrna, Tennessee, is a pilot factory of the U.S. Department of Energy and also a demonstration project for the company's participation in the "Better Buildings Challenge." This factory recently built a 6-acre, 1-megawatt solar power field, which is the first of its kind in the United States. Through this project, the company can simplify the operation of the solar power field while conducting research and testing of renewable energy solutions. Combined with Schneider Electric's energy efficiency management solutions, this factory has successfully cut energy consumption by 35% and is currently applying for ISO 50001 energy management standard certification and "Superior Energy Performance" gold certification.
In addition, as the only energy efficiency management company participating in the challenge plan, Schneider Electric is also one of the pioneer enterprises that first practiced the energy performance contracting model. Some federal government construction projects under the "Better Buildings Challenge" will also adopt this model, paying for the renovation costs with the energy cost savings achieved through energy efficiency upgrades. According to a presidential memorandum signed by President Obama, the "Better Buildings Challenge" project will receive $2 billion in funding for energy efficiency upgrades in federal government buildings, and the long-term energy-saving benefits realized will be used to pay for the upfront costs, thus not requiring taxpayer money.