PORTLAND, ORE. — Franz Bakery has received an Energy Champion award from the U.S. Department of Energy (D.O.E.) for achieving more than 250,000 million Btu total energy savings, or more than 15% total energy savings, at its plant in Portland. Franz Bakery is the largest independent baking company in the Northwest, producing fresh baked foods for distribution to grocery, restaurant, food service and institutional customers.

"This is a tremendous recognition, and I am really proud of our team for identifying and implementing environmentally-conscious changes to the way we do business," said Marc Albers, president and chief executive officer of Franz Bakery. "We have taken many steps — including the installation of an oxidizer — to make our facility more eco-friendly and keep our city and the environment as clean as we can."

To achieve the recognition, Franz Bakery had to complete a Save Energy Now energy assessment with the D.O.E. Industrial Technologies Program (I.T.P.) in 2008. Save Energy Now is a national initiative of the I.T.P. designed to drive a reduction of 25% or more in industrial energy intensity in 10 years. Companies that partner with the D.O.E. may use the I.T.P.’s resources to reduce energy use and improve efficiency, while increasing profits.

As of September, the D.O.E. had completed nearly 2,400 Save Energy Now assessments, resulting in an annual implemented savings of $218 million in energy, 16 trillion Btu in natural gas, and a reduction in 2.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.