In October 2016, Legrand North and Central America concluded the first leg of its Energy Marathon 2.0 competition, an internal company-wide event designed to save energy through ready-to-implement technology and process changes. The event resulted in a high level of employee participation and innovation, yielded excellent saving results, and set the foundation for continued energy reduction best practices for the future.
As the Energy Marathon 2.0 concluded, three sites were named winners of their respective building class categories (manufacturing, distribution and office) and a fourth was awarded the Superlative award for saving the most kWh and energy costs during the nearly month-long event. The Legrand North America locations at Fort Mill, Middletown, Hickory and Fairfield all moved into the second leg of the competition, where they were asked to sustain their energy savings for the next several months.
Based on an energy intensity measurement, each site was tracked on its performance compared to the same period one year before. Legrand North America’s Hickory location team finished the program as the ultimate winner, boasting a 16.3 per cent reduction in energy intensity.
Since the conclusion of the Energy Marathon (November 2016 to March 2017), the four competing sites saved a total of $33,334 in energy costs, a total of 310,705 kWh, and the equivalent of 218 metric tons of CO2 worth of energy.
“Our Energy Marathons are designed to challenge employees and managers to find innovative and effective ways to save energy,” said Susan Rochford, vice president, energy efficiency, sustainability and public policy, Legrand, North and Central America. “The ultimate goal of this program is to establish and develop best practices that can be adopted for long-term conversation. Our four finalists certainly succeeded in this area.”
Since a traditional marathon is 26.2 miles, the Legrand Energy Marathon puts a focus on energy efficiency for a 26.2-day period. The Energy Marathon 2.0 ran from October 3rd to the 28th, with the four winners competing in the final sustainability leg.
In 2016, the program consisted of 22 competing sites, which saved a total of 722,941 kWh and $79,725 over the course of the 26.2-day event. This level of electricity savings equates to 508 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Overall, Legrand North America reduced its electricity use by 15.9 per cent during the event, compared to a September 2016 baseline.
This was a significant result increase over Energy Marathon 2014, which 18 corporate sites participated in, with a total savings of 588,540 kWh and $46,732 on electric bills.
Site reduction strategies including all lights, machinery and other equipment were properly shut down at the end of the work day, as well as re-configuring lighting controls to only illuminate occupied spaces at all times, and issuing friendly energy waste infractions to fellow co-workers during the competition.
The Energy Marathons are just one element of Legrand’s commitment to energy conservation and sustainability. Legrand has been a Department of Energy Better Buildings, Better Plant Challenge Partner since 2011, is an Ally member of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, and an Associate member of the Alliance to Save Energy.
