Volvo Trucks' New River Valley assembly plant in Dublin, Va., is the first U.S. facility to be certified to the ISO 50001 standards under a pilot program supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. NRV is also the first Superior Energy Performance (SEP)-certified facility to use ISO 50001 as its energy management system standard. ISO 50001 and SEP are, respectively, the top international standard and top U.S. certification program for driving continuous improvements in energy efficiency.
These certifications will help the NRV plant further reduce its energy intensity to ultimately become carbon neutral. ANAB and ANSI assess and accredit the certification bodies that audit for compliance with SEP and ISO 50001. Volvo, in conjunction with certification/verification body DEKRA, is the first organization to complete the joint ANSI/ANAB ISO 50001/SEP certification pilot program.
"SEP and ISO 50001 certifications are an honor and a direct reflection of the environmental commitment of our entire organization," said Lars Blomberg, Volvo Trucks vice president and general manager of the NRV assembly plant. "These certifications required a high degree of cooperation – a total plant effort. Employees at all levels have been actively engaged throughout our entire energy reduction journey."
Established by the U.S. Department of Energy, the new SEP certification program provides a pathway for continuous energy efficiency improvements. The program is a transparent, nationally accepted system for verifying improvements in energy performance and management.
To earn SEP certification, facilities must also conform to the ISO 50001 energy management standard, the new international framework for organizations to implement an energy management system.
Volvo Trucks North America is part of the Volvo Group, a leading manufacturer of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services, and heavy-diesel engines. It is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden.
