We include energy management in our annual strategic planning process to help us pursue that goal. Site leadership, the corporate environmental team and other site stakeholders will work together to identify and implement energy reduction projects as we work towards our target.
The combination of Zurn and Elkay in 2022 changed the baseline of our company’s overall energy usage, due to higher energy requirements at some Elkay manufacturing facilities. To gain a better understanding of our energy usage and develop appropriate energy reduction plans, we launched an energy maturity assessment on our top 10 energy-using facilities to examine a range of energy reduction measures, including lighting, HVAC, air compressors, variable speed drives and heat capture. Starting this process at our 10 highest energy-using facilities will enable a deeper dive into the energy saving opportunities and our development of detailed, site-specific project roadmaps for achieving our energy intensity reduction goal.
Along with this top-down assessment of our energy use, we are also expanding our efforts to engage associates directly in our energy reduction efforts. In 2023, we will be extending the use of Energy Councils to all Zurn Elkay facilities.
Energy Councils include key personnel such as managers and plant maintenance professionals who have detailed knowledge of each site’s energy use. Engaging these teams in discussions about our companywide energy reduction targets will help us solicit new ideas for energy reduction projects at each facility.