MARTINSVILLE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--E3: Economy - Energy - Environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and NASCAR Green are working together to encourage businesses to operate in a green and sustainable fashion by launching the second NASCAR Green/E3 Challenge. This public announcement of the Challenge on this Earth Day, April 22, is to underscore the sustainability efforts that the E3 (Energy, Economy, Environment) Initiative has been making in Virginia and plans to move their sustainability efforts forward with the help of NASCAR Green. Manufacturers participating in the Virginia E3 Initiative (VA E3) will be eligible to compete by demonstrating the changes each company has implemented to become more sustainable. Participating manufacturers will compete for a NASCAR VIP Experience to be bestowed in fall 2014.
The VA E3 Initiative assists manufacturers in operating in a more efficient, competitive, and sustainable manner resulting in a more profitable business. E3 manufacturers begin by participating in assessments and training. During this time, E3 participants are provided with recommendations on how to: reduce their environmental impact, improve efficiency, generate measurable cost savings, and support sustainability through educational awareness.
“EPA applauds the leadership of the Commonwealth of Virginia and NASCAR to advance sustainable manufacturing through their E3 Challenge,” said Jim Jones, EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “We are pleased to work with NASCAR to help manufacturers save money, increase productivity, reduce the use of energy and materials, create jobs, and better position their businesses to compete in the global marketplace.”
An independent review committee will select the winner of the Virginia NASCAR Green/E3 Challenge. The committee may be comprised of E3 partners’ local utilities, the EPA, VA Department of Environment Quality, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The E3 Challenge for Virginia begins at the end of April 2014 and continues through August 2014.
About E3: Economy – Energy - Environment
E3: Economy – Energy - Environment supports sustainable manufacturing. It is supported by six federal agencies: the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Since 2011, E3 Virginia has grown statewide with a grassroots, community focus. GENEDGE ALLIANCE of Martinsville, and the Manufacturing Technology Center at Wytheville Community College currently administer the Virginia E3 Initiative. Each E3 team is comprised of industry advocates working together to identify manufacturers who may benefit from energy “tune-up.” Participating manufacturers receive technical assessments to encourage the adoption of world-class business practices, and to highlight opportunities for improving process efficiency, environmental stewardship, energy efficiency, and worker safety.
