by Brianna Crandall — July 13, 2012—Allsteel, Inc., has received ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification. The company is reportedly the first furniture manufacturer in the world to be certified to this new global energy management standard and only the third company in the United States to receive the rating. Additionally, the company earned Superior Energy Performance (SEP) Gold certification for industrial facilities, achieving more than 10 percent in energy reductions since its 2008 energy baseline. In seeking the certifications, Allsteel was part of a U.S. Department of Energy Demo Program. An accredited registrar granted both certifications.
ISO 50001 and SEP are, respectively, the top international standard and top U.S. certification program for driving continuous improvements in energy efficiency, notes Allsteel. ISO 50001:2011, Energy management systems—Requirements with guidance for use, is a voluntary international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization that gives requirements for energy management systems. It establishes a framework for large and small organizations in both the public and private sectors, in manufacturing and services, to manage energy.
The Superior Energy Performance certification program provides industrial facilities with a roadmap for achieving continual improvement in energy efficiency while maintaining competitiveness. It requires implementation of ISO 50001, with additional requirements to achieve and document energy performance improvements.
“These are the current pinnacles of sustainability, and it’s a proud moment for Allsteel to have achieved this,” said Jeff Lorenger, Allsteel president. “We congratulate and thank all those on the Allsteel team who have been so relentlessly vigilant in leading us to this moment. But, in all of its 100 years, Allsteel has always steadied its focus on the future, and we will continue to raise the bar on our own performance so that we progressively decrease our own energy footprint.”
According to Keri Luly, Allsteel’s manager of sustainability programs, the company’s 650,000-square-foot manufacturing facility qualified for these latest certifications by committing to incorporate energy-saving systems that will yield a 25 percent reduction in energy intensity over 10 years. To this end, several initiatives have already been completed, such as the installation of a 21,200 kWh rooftop solar array. Other energy efficiency accomplishments contributing to the certifications include annual average reductions over the past two years on its air compressor system by 2,359,837 kWh and on its variable frequency drive (VFD) dust collection system by 696,428.571 kWh.
“We knew when we accepted the invitation from the Department of Energy and the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing to participate in their pilot leadership program that it would be a challenge to meet their requirements,” said Luly. “But Allsteel once again has proven it is a leader both domestically and on the global front.”
Idaho-based Allsteel, which is marking its 100th anniversary in 2012, designs, builds and delivers award-winning workplace furniture solutions. Allsteel was reportedly the first contract furniture manufacturer to have all products certified either Indoor Advantage or Indoor Advantage Gold, and the entire line can contribute to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits. Additionally, Allsteel strives to attain the highest “level” certification from the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) for all that it manufactures.
