WASHINGTON — The United States Mint is pleased to announce that its West Point facility has been accepted in the Department of Energy’s Superior Energy PerformanceCM program, in the Northeast energy management demonstration project. Enrollment in the program is one of the many steps the bureau is taking to “green” the production of America’s coins. The program is expected to launch nationally in 2012.
Superior Energy Performance is a certification program that provides industrial facilities with a roadmap for achieving continual improvement in energy efficiency while maintaining competitiveness. The program will provide a transparent, globally accepted system for verifying energy performance improvements and management practices. Completing the Superior Energy Performance program will help the West Point facility reduce its energy use, thus cutting costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
To qualify for Superior Energy Performance certification, the United States Mint at West Point will implement the new ISO 50001 energy management standard and improve its energy performance by at least five percent over the three–year performance period. The ISO 50001 energy management standard is an international framework for industrial plants, commercial facilities or entire organizations to manage energy, including all aspects of procurement and use. The standard provides organizations and companies with technical and management strategies to increase energy efficiency, reduce costs, and improve environmental performance.
To learn more about the United States Mint’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact, visit http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/mint_facilities/?action=Sustainability.
The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.