Legrand Shares New Energy Savings Resources Aimed at Promoting Better Energy Management

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, at VERGE SF, Legrand (LR.PA) announced it is sharing key energy savings resources that have been developed as part of a successful effort to significantly reduce energy intensity across its North American facilities.  These resources can be used by manufacturing companies and other organizations to develop and implement energy and cost savings programs for their businesses. 

The first energy savings resource, a 16-page Energy Management Handbook, is a straightforward tool to help companies take a practical and logical approach to launching an energy management program.  The handbook draws on key learnings from Legrand's efforts to reduce energy consumption.  It outlines a four-step process:  Making a Commitment, Assessing Your Current State of Energy Use, Creating an Action Plan, and Reporting and Evaluating Progress.  It is available for download at www.legrand.us/sustainability.

The second resource is a new Energy Project Evaluation Tool – an interactive spreadsheet that shows companies where to start on their energy savings journey.  To explain the Energy Project Evaluation Tool, Legrand will offer web-based learning modules.  Sign-up for an upcoming learning module can be completed today at www.legrand.us/sustainability.

Both energy savings resources are offered at no cost as part of Legrand's ongoing commitment to share resources it is developing as it reduces energy intensity across its North American facilities.

Susan Rochford, vice president, Energy Efficiency, Sustainability & Public Policy for Legrand, North America, is a featured panel speaker on Smart Energy, Smart Buildings at VERGE SF.  Rochford states, "Legrand is working to make dramatic improvements in energy management across our North American sites – from office buildings to warehouses to factories.  At VERGE SF, I am sharing the story of our public commitment – as part of the Department of Energy's Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge – where in two short years, we achieved a 20.2 percent energy intensity reduction across our facilities."

Adds Legrand, North America president and CEO John Selldorff, "The success we've witnessed in the last two years has stemmed not only from the implementation of energy projects, but from a holistic framework that includes initiatives aimed at engaging employees in energy savings, establishing visible energy goals and accountability to meet them, and launching a common company-wide approach to tracking, reporting and analyzing energy use – this is our focus on people, processes and technology.  We're committed to sharing our energy savings resources with other companies who may be starting or are in the middle of their sustainability journey." 

According to Joel Makower, Executive Editor of GreenBizGroup and host of the VERGE SF conference, "Legrand is taking a major step in freely sharing the resources it has developed, including its own best practices, with other organizations.  This showcases the power of working together - across companies and sectors – to optimize everyone's energy use.  We're excited to hear their success story and support them in sharing their tools with other companies around the world."

"Partners in the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge are leading by example, showing firsthand how energy efficiency improvements save money by saving energy," said Maria Tikoff Vargas, Senior Advisor and Director of DOE's Better Buildings Challenge. "The investments these organizations are making to reduce energy waste in their facilities are saving American businesses millions in energy costs, creating jobs nationwide, and helping to position the United States to lead in the global economy."

Legrand will continue to provide additional energy savings resources and solutions it develops and leverages on its sustainability journey.  All are available at www.legrand.us/sustainability.

In addition to these two practical energy savings resources, the Legrand sustainability website features Legrand products, applications, and solutions to help customers reduce energy consumption.  The site also includes links to other helpful resources offered by the Department of Energy and the American Council for Energy Efficient Economy, among others.

At Greenbuild Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org), held November 14-16 in San Francisco immediately following VERGE SF, Legrand will showcase a mix of products that work to improve energy management within buildings – including lighting and plug load controls, data center solutions, sensors and more.

VERGE brings together business innovators, entrepreneurs, and leading public officials to illuminate the opportunities for radical efficiencies created through technology advancements in energy, buildings and transportation.  More information on VERGE SF can be found at http://www.greenbiz.com/events/verge/2012/11/san-francisco.

About Legrand
Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for use in commercial, industrial and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Innovation for a steady flow of new products with high added value is a prime vector for growth. Legrand reported sales of $5.7 billion in 2010. Legrand has a strong presence in the North American market, with a portfolio of well-known product lines that include Cablofil, Electrorack, On-Q, Ortronics, Pass & Seymour, Vantage, Watt Stopper and Wiremold. The adorne collection is the latest addition to the Legrand portfolio. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext (LR.PA) and is a component stock of indexes including the SBF120, FTSE4Good, MSCI World, ASPI. In 2010, Legrand was added to the European DJSI as well (ISIN code FR0010307819). www.legrand.us  

About the Better Buildings Challenge
The Better Buildings Challenge is a voluntary leadership initiative that asks chief executive officers, university presidents, and state and local leaders to make a public commitment to energy efficiency. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is highlighting leaders that have committed to upgrading buildings and plants across their portfolio, and providing their energy savings data and strategies as models for others to follow. The goal of the Better Buildings Challenge is to make American commercial and industrial buildings at least 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020.
www.legrand.us/aboutus/sustainability

SOURCE Legrand