Two Honda plants received Energy Star awards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for advances in curbing energy use during the production of passenger cars and light trucks.
In 2008 Honda's average CO2 emissions per vehicle produced in North America were at their lowest levels since the company began measuring results in 2001. The EPA bases the award points on the amount of energy needed to produce an automobile, and includes factors such as vehicle size and production volume.
In Ohio, Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.'s Marysville and East Liberty plants each earned top energy performance scores of 100 points.
At the Marysville plant, Honda cut electricity consumption by reprogramming plastic injection molding machines to operate only during the production cycle, resulting in reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 80,000 pounds per year. At the East Liberty plant, Honda replaced older chiller pumps with smaller, more efficient units that reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 508,000 pounds per year.
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama LLC implemented a machine monitoring program for use of equipment between shifts, during lunch and breaks and on weekends. The program helped reduce electricity use on the paint line by 10 million kilowatt hours, representing about 15 million pounds of CO2.
The plants also have implemented "intelligent paint booth" technology that reduces energy consumption and related CO2 emissions from painting operations by as much as 25%. Developed by Honda and The Ohio State University, the system uses a predictive control mechanism to keep the temperature and humidity within specifications, even as weather conditions change.
The company's supply chain strategy of building products close to its customers also helps to reduce energy, emissions and waste associated with the transportation of products and component parts. Approximately 77% of the vehicles Honda sells in the U.S. are produced in North America.
