Cement Industry Honors CalPortland Cement Plant in Rillito, AZ for Energy Efficient Operations

April 16, 2012

SKOKIE, Ill. – The Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine acknowledged the CalPortland Company cement plant in Rillito, Ariz., as part of the 2012 Cement Industry Energy & Environmental Awards honoring sustainable manufacturing practices.
The plant was a finalist in the Award’s Energy Efficiency category that recognizes energy planning, applications of efficiency technologies and practices, and climate change mitigation efforts.
CalPortland Company has an established history of energy efficiency successes and continues to find additional improvements at its facilities. At the Rillito plant, energy performance goals are set for each process area and tracked on a real-time basis. This and other control methods and reviews have lead to significant reductions in energy costs and improved environmental performance. In 2011 the plant reduced its greenhouse gas intensity by 12 percent as a result of its aggressive energy efficiency programs and sustainability initiatives.
The CalPortland program also includes communication activities to the community, local schools, government agencies, customers and suppliers. It works closely with its value chain to promote energy efficiency and has established national accounts with suppliers that include energy efficiency as part of the contract.
“CalPortland is an excellent example of how decreasing emissions and raw materials lowers operational costs,” said Brian McCarthy, PCA president/CEO. “In these unstable economic times this helps ensure the continuity of a community’s valuable employer while improving the local and global environment.”

The Energy & Environmental Awards honor individual cement facilities that exemplify the spirit of continuous environmental improvement and support this spirit with action. These plants go beyond government regulations and local laws to ensure that their processes contribute to making their communities better places to live and work. Five categories are recognized: Outreach, Environmental Performance, Land Stewardship, Innovation, and Energy Efficiency. Additionally, PCA presents a special honor to a plant demonstrating excellence in multiple categories.

The awards program was created in 2000 by the Portland Cement Association as part of its environment and energy strategic plan for the U.S. cement industry. The awards honor activities conducted during the previous calendar year, and the program is open to any cement manufacturing plant in North America. Judges for the 2012 E&E Awards Program included representatives from U.S. EPA-ENERGY STAR, Wildlife Habitat Council, U.S. Geological Survey, World Wildlife Fund and Cement Americas.

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. More information on PCA programs is available at www.cement.org.

About CalPortland Company
CalPortland Company is a major producer of cement, concrete, concrete products, aggregates and asphalt in the western United States and Canada. Founded in 1891 with the principle of providing unsurpassed quality, CalPortland remains a leader in the industry through its commitment to quality, customer service, technical support and environmental leadership. The company maintains its headquarters in Glendora, California and operates in the Western U.S. and two Canadian Provinces. For more information about CalPortland Company, visit www.calportland.com or call 626-852-6200