Flowers Foods, Inc. has announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Better Plants program recently recognized Flowers Baking Co. of Batesville with a Better Practice Award for its energy efficiency projects, which have reduced annual energy use by more 13,000 MMBtu—the equivalent of nearly 250 homes per year.

In partnership with local utility providers, the bakery leveraged tiered incentives to enable energy-saving practices during capital projects. From 2016 to 2021, the bakery implemented 13 efficiency projects including boiler, compressed air, and LED lighting upgrades, waste heat recovery, and variable-frequency drives for exhaust fans, among other projects.

“When planning equipment upgrades, Flowers Baking Co. of Batesville incorporated energy efficiency throughout the project design, reducing energy usage and costs long-term,” said Margaret Ann Marsh, vice president of sustainability and environmental at Flowers Foods. “Across the Flowers network, this program has become a case study in how to look at every operational upgrade project as an energy efficiency opportunity.”

As part of DOE’s Better Buildings Initiative, Better Plants works with manufacturers and water and wastewater utilities to boost their competitiveness through improvements in energy efficiency, GHG emissions reduction, water efficiency, and waste reduction. DOE supports these efforts with technical expertise and national recognition. The annual Better Practice Awards are bestowed upon partners for innovative and industry-leading accomplishments in implementing and promoting practices, principles, and procedures of energy management.

“Better Plants partners are combating the climate crisis through meaningful energy, water, and waste reduction efforts. The Better Plants Better Practice and Better Project awards highlight innovation in industrial sustainability and a willingness to share good ideas,” said Carolyn Snyder, deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Read more about Better Plants partner results, showcase projects, and innovative solutions being shared with others in the 2021 Better Plants Progress Update.

Flowers Foods is on the current Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery “Top 50 Snack & Bakery Companies” list. Click here to view the current “Top 50” rankings.