Saint-Gobain joins DOEs Save Energy Now LEADER Program

Saint-Gobain has joined the U.S. Department of Energy s recently launched Save Energy Now^® LEADER Program, signing a voluntary pledge to reduce its industrial energy intensity by 25 percent over the next decade.

Together with other LEADER companies, Saint-Gobain--named the Environmental Protection Agency s Energy Star Partner of the Year in 2009--will serve as an energy efficiency role model and pace setter for others in the industrial sector.In return, LEADER companies receive access to select DOE resources, as well as national recognition for energy management achievements.

“These commitments to energy efficiency not only generate significant energy and carbon savings, but also show the entire business community the profitable steps that can be taken to move us all toward a clean energy future, says Department of Energy Secretary Stephen Chu. “Working together with American manufacturers, we will leverage the potential of energy efficiency to create new jobs, make our economy more competitive, and reduce carbon pollution.

The U.S. industrial sector accounts for more than 18 million jobs in the United States, as well as nearly 30 percent of the energy used nationwide and 27 percent of the country s carbon emissions.The Obama Administration has made major commitments to improving energy efficiency as a path toward enhancing the country s energy security and strengthening the American economy, including more than $250 million in Recovery Act investments to improve the efficiency of the industrial and information technology sectors.

The LEADER program is a new component of the existing and successful Save Energy Now initiative, which provides participating businesses with access to tools and training to help them reduce energy use and lower operating costs.More than 2,000 plants received energy assessments through Save Energy Now from 2006 to 2009.To date, those assessments have identified opportunities for $1.3 billion in identified cost savings, 119 trillion Btu of natural gas savings, and 11.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide savings.

About Saint-Gobain

With more than 1,000 subsidiaries in 57 countries, Saint-Gobain (http://www.saint-gobain.com/en) is the world s largest manufacturer and distributor of building materials, and a leader in the production of high performance materials and glass containers.Founded in 1665 and headquartered in Paris, Saint-Gobain had worldwide sales of $64.4 billion in 2008 and employs approximately 209,000 people.In the United States and Canada (http://www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com/), Saint-Gobain employs approximately 20,000 people, and had sales of $8.1 billion in 2008. The company has approximately 160 manufacturing plants and more than 150 distribution outlets throughout North America. Saint-Gobain has been an ENERGY STAR partner since 2005.

Saint-Gobain businesses include CertainTeed (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania), Norandex Building Materials Distribution (Hudson, Ohio); Saint-Gobain Crystals (Hiram, Ohio); Saint-Gobain Containers (Muncie, Indiana); Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics (Grand Island, New York); and Saint-Gobain Abrasives (Worcester, Massachusetts).