The Cooper River energy team conduct an inspection of a flash steam system.

Wash water tanks at the New Johnsonville site, like the one shown above, now receive water heated from the heat recovery system rather than water at ambient temperature.

The five award-winning projects alone have the full-year impact of reducing DuPont's energy use by 2.7 trillion BTUs, which would heat over 21,000 homes.

The full-year reductions represented by the projects have an additional environmental benefit equivalent to the reduction of 522 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.  Between 1990 and 2005 DuPont reduced global greenhouse gas emissions by 72 percent.  As part of DuPont's 2015 Sustainability Goals, the company has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an additional 15 percent.  These projects represent important steps toward reaching that goal.

The five ACC awards included:  "Energy Efficiency Program-Corporate/Business Unit," as well as individual manufacturing site awards for projects at the Edge Moor site, Edgemoor, Del.; the Chambers Works site, Deepwater, N.J.; the Cooper River site in Berkeley County, S.C., and the New Johnsonville site in New Johnsonville, Tenn. 

In a world marked by rising energy costs, these projects have a financial benefit for the company as well.  Each project was justified by a rate of return that was in excess of the cost of capital - making them improvements that paid for themselves.

"I am very proud of our DuPont team - not only for these projects, but also for all the energy conservation progress we are making at our manufacturing sites around the world," said Mathieu Vrijsen, senior vice president - DuPont Operations & Engineering.  "It is rewarding to know that we are reducing global energy demand and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time strengthening our businesses."