Boehringer Ingelheim Recognized for Energy Efficiency

Company Named 2013 Business Leader and State Champion by NEEP

Ridgefield, CT, June 19, 2013 – Boehringer Ingelheim today announced that it has received a strong endorsement for its ongoing commitment to sustainable innovation and energy efficiency by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), which recognized Boehringer Ingelheim as a 2013 State Champion and Northeast Business Leader for Energy Efficiency at the organization’s summit gathering in June.

“We are honored to be recognized by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships,” said Paul Fonteyne, President and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim USA Corporation. “As part of our mission to improve health and quality of life, we are dedicated to minimizing the company’s environmental impact, conserving natural resources and promoting environmental awareness both locally and globally.”

Nominated for the recognition by Connecticut Light & Power, Boehringer Ingelheim is being honored for its successful efforts to achieve energy savings at its 300-acre U.S. headquarters in Ridgefield, Conn. From 2010-2012, the company implemented a persistent strategy for energy efficiency at its 265,000-square foot Administrative Office Building (AOB), utilizing the RetroCommissioning program – one of the innovative programs supported by the Energize Connecticut initiative. The project included changes to the energy management system’s programming for both space heating/cooling and water heating.

Boehringer Ingelheim saw immediate electric and gas savings as a result of the project. So far, the company’s efforts have resulted in annual energy savings of over 2 million kWh per year resulting in cost savings of more than $300,000 and the avoidance of 1,555 tons of CO2 emissions.

“We are proud to have successfully reduced our energy use and are committed to helping to keep Connecticut a national leader in advancing energy efficiency,” said Mr. Fonteyne. “Participation in energy efficiency programs has helped us to re-evaluate operational paradigms to reduce waste and we will continue to look for new ways to minimize our impact on the environment.”

In addition to the retrocommissioning project, the company upgraded some commercial kitchen equipment to ENERGY STAR® certified models that not only reduce energy consumption but also reduce water consumption by thousands of gallons per year. The company is also actively pursuing installation of a gas-driven 100-500 kilowatt micro turbine as an alternative to fuel cells.  

Boehringer Ingelheim’s commitment to efficiency extends to the company’s employees and is embedded in the company culture. Energy conservation goals are included in job descriptions, goals and performance metrics for members of the Energy Strategy Team. Recent efforts include energy fairs, electric vehicle demonstrations and home conservation workshops.

Many of Boehringer Ingelheim’s energy efficiency initiatives have been implemented not only at the Ridgefield campus, but across the company, worldwide. Recently, the company introduced a global initiative to reduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2020.

“When a business goes all-in and takes additional steps to save energy, they achieve deeper energy-savings and save more money, which allows them to invest in other areas of their business,” said Ron Araujo, Manager of Conservation & Load Management programs at Connecticut Light & Power. “Boehringer Ingelheim is a tremendous example of a company that has made energy efficiency a top priority. They worked with us to implement several of our programs and have seen impressive energy savings.”

Boehringer Ingelheim was honored with 11 other organizations at NEEP's June summit, which, as the premier regional forum on energy efficiency in the Northeast, brings together leaders from public policy, business, energy efficiency solutions, consumer and environmental advocacy and other energy efficiency stakeholders.

About Boehringer Ingelheim

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 140 affiliates and more than 46,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

Social responsibility is a central element of Boehringer Ingelheim's culture. Involvement in social projects, caring for employees and their families, and providing equal opportunities for all employees form the foundation of the global operations. Mutual cooperation and respect, as well as environmental protection and sustainability are intrinsic factors in all of Boehringer Ingelheim’s endeavors.

In 2012, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about $19.1 billion (14.7 billion euro). R&D expenditure in the business area Prescription Medicines corresponds to 22.5% of its net sales.