The Planet Proposition sustainability initiative kicked off in 2013 with leadership teams at Armstrong sites in the U.S., Canada, China, India, and the U.K. signing onto the charter. It has three strands: Our Solutions (energy-efficient systems that help customers reduce energy consumption, save money, and lower carbon emissions); Our Environment (improved environmental performance in company operations); and Our Community (educating and supporting Armstrong stakeholders and neighbors to make environmentally responsible choices at work and at home).

Since the introduction of the Energy Savings Dashboard, Armstrong Design Envelope HVAC solutions have saved customers more than 630 million kWh of energy, representing a carbon emission savings of more than 212,000 tons of CO2 and a cost saving of more than $60 million. This year has seen a particular commitment to drive down energy consumption in data centers and district energy schemes. Keys to the success of Armstrong solutions include demand-based control, off-site manufacture, and advanced system integration.

Armstrong sites worldwide are committed to reducing their own monthly electricity, gas, and water consumption. A program of energy monitoring has been in operation in all plants since 2014. This consists of data loggers on gas, electricity, and water meters feeding through Armstrong’s Eco-Pulse platform into a central display that shows current and historical consumption. This enables sites to trend patterns of use and to identify and address anomalies as they occur. Armstrong’s facility in Haesowen, West Midlands, U.K., achieved a 40 percent reduction in water consumption by recycling the water used in the testing of packaged plant rooms.

A wide range of community projects have been organized throughout Planet Proposition’s second year, encompassing fundraising for local causes, employee health and wellbeing initiatives, links with education and local training outreach programs, student placements, an employee sustainable travel initiative, a tree-planting initiative, and the organization of green awareness days.

“This year’s achievements across all three strands of our Planet Proposition have been really impressive, particularly when you consider the pressures that the economic climate places on both companies and individuals,” said Steve Cooper, director of sustainable design, Armstrong Fluid Technology. “Improving environmental performance has taken on greater importance for us over the last two years, and has become our new way of approaching business on an everyday basis.”

Also seen in:

• greenenergyinvesting.net
• phcnews.com
• Supply House Times - September 2015