General Motors Supports National Energy Conservation Marion Metal Center Reduces Energy Consumption

FOR RELEASE: November 12, 2002

General Motors Supports National Energy Conservation Marion Metal Center Reduces Energy Consumption

MARION, Ind. - General Motors and the Marion Metal Center continually strive to conserve natural resources in all their operations. The Marion plant has taken several steps to reduce energy use and improve environmental conditions, resulting in significant improvements.

Since 1995, electric use has been reduced 17.3 percent, water use has been reduced 59.9 percent, and steam use has been reduced 39.7 percent. The electricity saved is enough to meet the monthly needs of over 1,000 Marion homes and the water saved is enough to meet the monthly needs of nearly 300 Marion homes.

The plant's Energy Conservation Engineer works full time to coordinate and facilitate energy efficiency. To support this effort, the facility was modernized and old, inefficient equipment was removed. In addition, business units within the facility formed an Energy Team and developed energy sufficiency plans. These include designating equipment to be turned off when not needed for production and assigning individuals responsibility for controlling energy use. Energy audits are conducted regularly to ensure the plans are being fulfilled and that continuous improvements are made.

Last year, the Marion Metal Center received certification for ISO 14001, a program in which industries take steps to conform to international environmental standards. Reducing energy waste is one of the goals of the plant's ISO 14001 plan. By consuming less electricity, the plant eliminated the emission of more than 500 pounds of hydrogen fluoride, sulfuric acid aerosol, and hydrochloric acid aerosol into the air and also eliminated the deposit of more than 60 pounds per month of elements such as barium, vanadium, manganese, copper, zinc, and chromium into the land at the utility company's power plants.

Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency recognized General Motors as an ENERGY STAR(r) "2002 Partner of the Year" for its outstanding commitment to energy efficiency through continuous improvement of energy performance throughout its organization. James Cartwright, the plant's energy conservation engineer, notes, "We at General Motors are proud to take an active role in preserving the environment and conserving natural resources."

GM Metal Fabricating Division, headquartered in Troy, Mich., supplies the sheet metal components and assemblies for a majority of the General Motors vehicles produced in North America. The division has 18 operating facilities located in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana and Canada.

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