Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  February 16, 2022

Saint-Gobain’s CertainTeed Upgrades Plant to Lower GHG

Saint-Gobain, through its building products subsidiary CertainTeed LLC, is investing $32 million to upgrade equipment at its insulation plant in Chowchilla, California, which will also lower its carbon footprint. 

The upgrade to the facility will expand its production capacity by 13%. The new oven, new furnace, and additional new equipment installed at the plant will consume less natural gas and electricity and will reduce the facility’s carbon footprint by more than 4,000 metric tons annually. The new equipment is expected to come online in February and March.

The investments in Chowchilla were first announced in November as part of a broader $400 Million expansion of Saint-Gobain’s manufacturing facilities in the U.S. is part of the company’s global Grow and Impact strategy, which includes increasing its presence in high growth markets while reducing its environmental footprint.

The furnace in Chowchilla is used to melt recycled glass and sand into molten glass which is eventually fiberized. The oven is used to cure binding material which holds the fibers together, allowing the insulation to assume its final shape and dimensions. As part of the expansion project, the plant has also installed a new oxygen generation unit which consumes 30% less electricity than the older equipment it replaces. 

“Our strategic investments in Chowchilla represent a major commitment to our customers on the West Coast for decades to come, ensuring that we will meet the need for our industry-leading fiberglass insulation at a time of unprecedented demand growth, all while reducing the plant’s carbon footprint,” said Andrew Goldberg, Vice President and General Manager of CertainTeed Insulation Product Group in a statement. “We will continue to strive to maximize our positive impact, for our customers and the communities where we do business, while minimizing our environmental footprint.”

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