November 6, 2012 – The Boeing Company and its Boeing Long Beach Douglas Center campus are the first company and site in the nation to achieve Energy Star Challenge for Industry recognition by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for three years in a row. The Challenge for Industry is a call-to-action campaign to improve energy efficiency of industrial and office buildings by a minimum of 10 percent over five years. The campus, which consists of three buildings located at 4000 N. Lakewood Blvd., has cut its electricity consumption by 44.4 percent and its natural gas consumption by more than 60 percent since 2008.  Boeing was able to accomplish these goals by upgrading and refurbishing air conditioning systems using magnetic bearings to cut energy use and maintenance needs; mounting reflective film on windows to reduce heat from the sun; installing dimmable lighting systems that optimize lighting levels by detecting daylight in two of its buildings; and providing a graphic user interface for employees to adjust heating, air conditioning, parking structure lighting and other controls when working non-standard hours. These energy efficiencies have amounted to an annual savings of $900,000 and reduce the campus’ environmental footprint by the equivalent of nine coal rail cars each year. “Achieving ENERGY STAR milestones for Boeing sites has been a key factor in Boeing’s ‘four walls’ strategy to reduce energy usage and waste along with reducing the environmental footprint of Boeing operations,” according to a press release. Pictured, from left, are La Weeda Jones Ward, environmental engineer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 Air Division; Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and Ralph Sobon, Long Beach site leader for Boeing’s commercial aviation services. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)