The Portland, Ore., bakery was rewarded for significantly cutting energy.

Franz Family Bakeries has received an Energy Champion award from the U.S. Department of Energy for achieving more than 250,000 million Btu in total energy savings or more than 15% total energy savings at its Portland, Ore., facility. To receive this recognition, Franz completed a Save Energy Now energy assessment with the DOE’s Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) in 2008.

“This is a tremendous recognition and I am really proud of our team for identifying and implementing environmentally-conscious changes to the way we do business,” says Marc Albers, president and COO. “We have taken many steps, including the installation of an oxidizer, to make our facility more eco-friendly and keep our city and the environment as clean as we can.”

Save Energy Now is a national initiative of the ITP to drive a reduction of 25% or more in industrial energy intensity in 10 years. Companies nationwide can partner with DOE, participate in no-cost energy assessments and use ITP's proven resources to reduce energy use and improve efficiency, while increasing profits.

As of September 2009, DOE has completed nearly 2,400 Save Energy Now assessments, resulting in an annual implemented savings of $218 million in energy, 16 trillion Btu in natural gas and a reduction in 2.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.