Highlights: Bath Iron Works Achieves Reductions in Carbon Emissions
BIW’s progress in their reduction of carbon emissions makes them a leader in the Governor’s Carbon Challenge and STEP-UP programs. BIW achieved a 15% reduction in carbon emissions from their 2003 baseline, and efforts to conserve energy use in 2006 realized an 8.4% reduction in energy consumption. Vince Dickinson, manager of BIW’s Environmental Operations, says, “Our focus on basic conservation programs to reduce energy consumption resulted in significant cost savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.” Recent initiatives that contributed to BIW’s emissions reduction achievement include their Conservation Awareness campaign, more efficient lighting upgrades, insulation of steam lines, and completion of an upgrade to their Energy Management System.
One of Maine’s largest employers, with three manufacturing facilities (Bath and two in Brunswick) and approximately 5,300 employees, BIW’s success also provides a great example for mentoring others on how industry can manage environmental concerns. BIW has provided a mentoring role in working with two other STEP-UP companies, NorDx Laboratories in Westbrook and Poland Spring Bottling in Poland in the process of developing their environmental management systems. And for the second year in a row, BIW and their environmental program welcomed college students with the opportunity to tour their shipyard and engage their Environmental Operations staff. This year BIW hosted 28 students from Bowdoin College’s Environmental Studies class. BIW also received the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in January, 2007, presented for their achievement of solid waste and paper use reduction goals, well ahead of their STEP-UP commitment.
The Governor’s Carbon Challenge is a voluntary goal-setting program to assist businesses and non-profit organizations accomplish their greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
