Volvo Group North America (VGNA) has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently for achieving energy savings of close to 26 percent due to greater efficiency efforts across its manufacturing footprint as a partner in the Better Plants Challenge.

VGNA is one of the market leaders partnering with DOE to set portfolio-wide energy savings goals and share their efficiency strategies with the Better Buildings, Better Plants Solution Center. To date, Better Buildings and Better Plants partners have saved $18.5 billion in energy costs, resulting in nearly 190 million metric tons of avoided carbon emissions.

"Volvo Group is very pleased to be recognized by the DOE for achieving the goal that we have set under the Better Plants Challenge as it reinforces Volvo Group's fundamental commitment to care for the environment," said Rick Robinson, Volvo Group North America director of health, safety and environment.

"By embarking on the journey with the Better Plants Program, we pledged to cut our energy intensity by 25 percent in a decade. Through dedication, cooperation and the DOE's guidance, we not only met but exceeded our energy intensity goals which now stands reduced by 52.5 percent since our initial commitment in 2009 as a result of our sustainable business practices."

VGNA's journey towards energy efficiency has been marked by significant milestones:

• Surpassing First Goal in 2014: VGNA accomplished its initial goal five years ahead of schedule by achieving a 26.8 percent reduction in energy intensity.
• Meeting Second Goal in 2022: VGNA reached another pivotal milestone by reducing its energy intensity by an additional 25.7 percent.
• Overarching Achievement: Since 2009, VGNA has successfully reduced its energy intensity by an 52.5 percent.

VGNA's achievements in energy efficiency demonstrates efforts at six Prevost Bus service centers and the following seven manufacturing facilities across the United States:

• Volvo Trucks, Dublin, Va.
• Volvo Group Trucks Hagerstown
• Mack Trucks, Macungie, Pa.
• Volvo Construction Equipment, Shippensburg, Pa.
• Volvo Penta, Lexington, Tenn.
• Volvo Group Remanufacturing, Charlotte, N.C.
• Volvo Group Remanufacturing, Middletown, Pa.

In addition to its achievements within the Better Plants Program, VGNA also actively participates in the DOE's Better Plants Supply Chain Program. Through this endeavor, VGNA has successfully recruited eight of its suppliers into the Better Plants Program, extending the reach of its commitment to energy efficiency throughout its supply chain.

The Better Buildings Challenge is one component of the Better Buildings Initiative, through which DOE partners with more than 900 public and private sector organizations to make commercial, public, industrial and residential buildings more efficient, thereby saving energy and money while creating jobs.

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