Johns Manville’s Richmond, Ind. Facility Recognized for Outstanding Sustainability Practices

Johns Manville’s Richmond, Ind. plant this month received the Jim & Helen Cope Environmental Leadership Award for its commitment to energy efficiency and responsible environmental management practices.

The award was presented at the Cope Environmental Center’s (CEC) Brews & Ball Gowns fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 23. Now in its second year, the award recognizes businesses and organizations that emulate the ideals of Jim and Helen Cope by striving for sustainability in the workplace.

CEC was founded in 1992 by Jim and Helen Cope and Francis Parks as a way to teach people in the community about leading a sustainable life. As passionate biology teachers, the Copes had great love and respect for the natural world. From re-foresting their property, to organic gardening, to harnessing alternative energy at home, they taught the Richmond community how to be stewards of the earth by setting the example in their daily lives.

Johns Manville (JM), a Berkshire Hathaway company and global building and specialty products manufacturer, is committed to a rigorous sustainability program and sets comprehensive sustainability goals. JM employees in Richmond work hard to minimize waste and maximize energy efficiency. For example, last year the Richmond plant was proud to accept a sizable rebate check from Energizing Indiana, Richmond Power & Light and the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA) for making energy-efficient improvements. As of August 2013, the rebate was the largest issued to any of the IMPA’s 59 member communities involved in the Energizing Indiana program. The improvements cut the facility’s lighting energy consumption by approximately 80 percent and reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4 million pounds of carbon dioxide, more than 20,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and approximately 5,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides a year.

The Richmond team also volunteers extensively with Habitat for Humanity. The employees give their time, and JM donates insulation products to increase energy efficiency within Habitat for Humanity homes.

“The staff at our Richmond plant is dedicated to environmental responsibility, as well as employee health and safety,” said Melanie Lennon, the Health, Safety and Environmental Manager for JM’s Insulation Systems business. “They approach compliance with various agencies with the utmost professionalism, and I’m always impressed by the innovative ways they view sustainability.”

The Richmond JM plant was selected by a committee made up CEC board members and staff, with input from Wayne County Chamber of Commerce staff members and IMPA employees. According to CEC Executive Director Alison Zajdel, Johns Manville stood out from the crowd, partly due to the extensive work it did on a lighting retrofit project last year.

“JM does a nice job of leading the way,” said Zajdel. “The improvements they made significantly brought down their energy load, and it set a great example for other businesses.”

Zajdel said JM was also recognized for its strong environmental management program and its commitment to complying with various regulations. Not to mention, JM makes products that contribute to sustainability.

“Their insulation products help consumers make their homes and businesses more energy-efficient, and that’s a big deal,” said Zajdel.

About Johns Manville

Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality products for building insulation, mechanical insulation, commercial roofing and roof insulation, as well as fibers and nonwovens for commercial, industrial and residential applications. JM serves markets that include aerospace, automotive and transportation, air handling, appliance, HVAC, pipe and equipment, filtration, waterproofing, building, flooring, interiors and wind energy. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has annual sales of approximately $2.5 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves. JM employs approximately 7,000 people and operates 45 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China. Additional information can be found at www.jm.com.