The Energy Department on November 22 recognized aluminum manufacturer Alcoa and steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal for leadership in the Energy Department's Better Buildings, Better Plants Program. As a part of the Better Plants Challenge, Alcoa has demonstrated leadership by setting an ambitious goal to reduce the energy intensity of 29 of its plants by 25% by 2020 and sharing strategies and best practices to help other U.S. companies improve their energy efficiency. Additionally, in August, ArcelorMittal joined the broader Better Plants Program, committing to reducing its energy intensity by 10% across 17 plants.

As part of the Better Plants Program, Alcoa and ArcelorMittal co-hosted an energy-efficiency training program at their Cleveland plants for staff at both companies. Sponsored by the Energy Department, this hands-on technical training will further help plant staff identify new opportunities that reduce energy use and save money. Across the United States, more than $200 billion is spent to power commercial buildings, while another $200 billion is spent to power U.S. manufacturing facilities. In 2011, President Obama launched the Better Buildings Challenge to catalyze revolutionary change in energy use and achieve record-breaking energy bill savings. See the Better Buildings Challenge website.