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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA), with a 2010 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency and management.  TEMA’s accomplishments were recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010.  Drive around in your 2010 Toyota Camry, Toyota Avalon or Toyota Highlander and know that you are not only driving a great automobile but also having a positive impact on our environment.

Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award

TEMA, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2003, was honored with its sixth ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award for its long-term commitment to the environment across its ten manufacturing operations in the U.S.  Across the nation, top companies and organizations are leading the way toward a more energy-efficient future through participation in ENERGY STAR.

“Toyota’s commitment to sustainability reaches beyond just manufacturing vehicles,” said Kevin Butt, Chief Environmental Officer of TEMA.  “Our research and development efforts focus on developing the cars and manufacturing technologies for the future.  And our best resource to achieve this vision is our team members, who have paved the way to a sustainable future.”

Since 2006, Toyota’s U.S. manufacturing operations have received 14 Energy Star Plant Awards from the U.S. EPA, recognizing each plant’s energy performance over the past year and scoring in the top 25 percent of its industry.

Visit the leading Toyota dealership in Portland, Berlin City Toyota, and schedule a test drive for one of the cleanest vehicles in production.

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

• Reducing total energy use by 19 percent per vehicle produced since FY2000 while expanding and adding new facilities;
• Reducing water usage by 20 percent per vehicle produced since FY1999 through no- and low-cost improvements;
• The installation of solar panels at the Huntsville, Alabama engine plant – the first Toyota plant in the U.S. to have one.  The new five kilowatt solar panel generates enough energy to light four bays of floor space, or over 16,000 square feet; the equivalent of 80 60-watt light bulbs;
• At the Georgetown, Kentucky plant, the plastics shop reduced their shut down energy use by 83 percent from the previous year.

Energy improvements at Toyota manufacturing facilities have saved more than $30 million annually and reduced CO2 emission by almost 150,000 metric tons, equal to 19,000 homes.

The 2010 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency.

These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.