Legrand North America recently concluded its Energy Marathon 2.0, a company-wide, internal competition designed to save energy through ready-to-implement technology and process changes, and to reshape energy usage behaviors. This year’s Energy Marathon saw increased employee participation and innovation, and yielded excellent results as well as setting the foundation for continued energy reduction best practices for years to come.
Based on the idea that a marathon is 26.2 miles, the Legrand Energy Marathon brings energy efficiency to the forefront for a focused, 26.2-day period. The Energy Marathon 2.0 ran from October 3 to the 28.
This year’s 22 competing sites saved a total of 722,941kWh and $79,725 over the course of the near-month-long event. This level of electricity savings equates to 508 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Overall, Legrand North America reduced its electricity use by 15.9 percent during the event, compared to a September 2016 baseline. This was a significant results increase over Energy Marathon 2015, which, with 18 participating corporate sites, had a total savings of 588,540kWh and $46,732.00 on electric bills.
Site reduction strategies involved ensuring that machines, lights, and other equipment were properly shut down at the end of the work day, as well as re-configuring lighting controls to only illuminate occupied spaces at any given time, and issuing friendly energy waste infractions to fellow co-workers who were unnecessarily using energy during the competition.
“Through this program, employees and managers are inspired and challenged to find innovative ways to save energy,” said Susan Rochford, vice president, Energy Efficiency, Sustainability and Public Policy, Legrand, North America. “The ultimate goal is to establish positive energy behavior changes and develop best practices that can be adopted permanently for long-term conservation.”
To properly compare energy usages and level the playing field, all sites were placed into one of three building class categories: manufacturing, warehouse, and office. The top three winning sites included the company’s Fort Mill, SC distribution facility, with a 45.6 percent energy use reduction; a Middletown, PA office building with a 43.2 percent reduction, and a manufacturing facility in Hickory, NC, with a 42.9 percent reduction in energy use. In addition to the three building class category winners, Fairfield, NJ was recognized with an award for its outstanding achievement in saving the most electricity (288,512kWh) and money ($31,736) out of all of the competing sites.
The Energy Marathon 2.0 also featured three company-wide, weekly mini-events where all employees were invited to participate. The mini-events focused on engaging employees and promoting more energy savings as well as the Energy Marathon itself.
“It’s important to emphasize that the competition does not end here,” Rochford said. “Our four winners will continue to compete and the site that sustains the greatest consumption reduction over the next several months will be named the ultimate Energy Marathon 2.0 champion, and be awarded with the traveling trophy and a celebration for Earth Day 2017.”
The Legrand Energy Marathons are an element of the company’s larger commitment to energy conservation and sustainability. Legrand has been a Department of Energy Better Buildings, Better Plant Challenge Partner since 2011; is an Ally member of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, and an Associate member of the Alliance to Save Energy, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and energy security.
