Several bakery executives, including Chris Wolfe, corporate director for environmental and sustainability for Horsham-based Bimbo Bakeries USA, praised EPA’s Energy Star voluntary program at the International Baking Industry Exposition in Las Vegas, writes Jeff Gelski for the Baking Business.

The program helps businesses save money while protecting the environment by being more energy efficient. The top 25 percent of the highest scoring companies are awarded Energy Star certification. Other companies can also meet the Energy Star Challenge for Industry by lowering their energy consumption by ten percent over five years or less.

“This program is a great relationship between industry and EPA,” said Wolfe.

Wolfe believes that one of its best elements is that it currently has no application fees, which is why he is against the push to try to go to a fee program.

“That would be a mistake,“ he said. “So on behalf of our industry and behalf of the EPA, these are the types of arrangements and partnerships that are needed, and it needs to stay the way it is.”

Bimbo Bakeries USA currently has 14 Energy Star-certified active bakeries.

Read more about the program at the Baking Business by clicking here.