xpedx, a business-to-business distribution company, announced the company has earned the Energy Star designation at its locations in Lakeland, Fla. and Knoxville, Tenn.
 
The designation is given to buildings scoring in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency, based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) energy performance rating system. The xpedx facilities in Lakeland and Knoxville meet strict energy performance standards, use less energy, are less expensive to operate and cause fewer greenhouse gas emissions than peer facilities.

“We are committed to the preservation of the environment and the Energy Star reflects our dedication to energy conservation,” said Michael Natale, general manager of the xpedx Lakeland location. “Simple changes such as replacing light fixtures and adjusting the thermostat for non-occupied hours not only benefit the environment, but they save money as well.”

The Lakeland and Knoxville sites have nearly 425,000 square feet of combined space.

The xpedx team in Knoxville reduced energy costs by replacing old fluorescent light fixtures with mirror lighting. The mirrored shield that runs the length of the new fixture illuminates a larger space, which allowed the facility to cut the number of light fixtures in half.

In Lakeland, xpedx installed high efficiency lighting with motion sensors so the lights are only on when needed. The facility has also staggered electric equipment charging to non-peak hours and programmed the air conditioning unit to reduce energy consumption during non-occupied hours.

xpedx has established a goal to earn the Energy Star in a total of five new facilities this year, including Lakeland and Knoxville. It intends to recertify 23 other locations that have earned the designation in previous years.

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.