Legrand North & Central America

Legrand is a global manufacturer of digital and electrical infrastructure for buildings that employs 36,700 individuals and distributes its 300,000 products in nearly 180 countries. Legrand has a longstanding commitment to sustainability that is driven by successive, multi-year Corporate Social Responsibility Roadmaps designed to achieve concrete progress across a range of priorities. These priorities include targets to reduce Legrand’s Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions in alignment with the Science-Based Targets Initiative, which aims to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

As an inaugural partner in the DOE Better Plants Challenge, Legrand has taken a wide range of measures to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency across its operations by leveraging new technologies (e.g. fuel cell), engaging employees (e.g. company-wide “Energy Marathons”) and improving processes (e.g. optimizing production lines.) Since signing on in 2011, Legrand North and Central America has reduced its energy intensity through a combination of technology, process, and behavioral changes – including small steps, such as installing occupancy sensors and replacing fluorescent bulbs with LED lights and larger projects.

To reach its emissions reduction target, Legrand plans to continue applying industry best practices, achieving year over year absolute energy consumption reduction across its industrial sites, and by deploying renewable energy sources by way of production or purchase of green energy. Additionally, the company will complete the transition of its sales fleet to low/no carbon vehicles

Key Initiatives to Optimize Energy Use

The North American headquarters, located in West Hartford, Connecticut, served as Legrand’s Better Plants Challenge showcase site from 2011-2013. It has since become LEED Certified, and since 2016, has operated using advanced solid oxide fuel cell technology.

The company’s Concord, North Carolina, facility recently installed an adiabatic water cooling tower to replace electric water chillers for key manufacturing processes. By right-sizing the cooling system, the company is expected to save more than $110,000 in annual electricity costs.

Finally, the company conducts periodic Energy Marathons to reduce energy usage and increase efficiency. For 26.2 days, employees across all sites are challenged to find new and creative solutions to save energy. Legrand held Energy Marathons in 2014, 2016, and 2019. With the success of these events, Legrand has been able to save more than 1.3 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy totaling $126,000 in costs. But the even bigger payoff is in employee engagement and the ability to attract top young talent by demonstrating that Legrand is committed to sustainability efforts.

Energy Efficiency Elevator Pitch with Susan Rochford, Legrand

Webinar

Looking to the Future: Advancing Commercial Building Plug and Process Load Efficiency and Control

Webinar

Energy Efficient-SHE

Webinar

Intra-organization Energy Efficiency Competitions

Presentation

Creating a Culture of Energy Conservation

Presentation

From the Manufacturing Floor to the Corner Office: How to Communicate with Management and Plant Personnel

Presentation

From the Manufacturing Floor to the Corner Office: How to Communicate with Management and Plant Personnel

Video

Energy Efficiency Elevator Pitch with Susan Rochford, Legrand

Video

Intra-organization Energy Efficiency Competitions

Presentation

Extending the Benefits of Energy Efficiency Across the Value Chain

Presentation

Extending the Benefits of Energy Efficiency Across the Value Chain

Tools

Becoming Smarter about Energy: A Guide to Submeter Development and Greater Energy Management Insights

Tools

“Making the Case for Energy Metering,” ASHRAE Journal

Solutions at a Glance

Legrand Drives Employee Engagement through Innovative Energy Marathon

Video

Energy Efficiency: Sharpening Legrand's Competitive Edge

Presentation

Engaging Employees to Drive Efficiency Behavior

Presentation

Engaging Employees to Drive Efficiency Behavior

Performance Data

Energy Efficiency Elevator Pitch with Susan Rochford, Legrand

Solutions

Leadership Commitments

Better Plants Challenge

Goal

Commitment

Progress

Better Plants Challenge

Additional Goal

Better Plants Challenge

Additional Goal

DOE Program Participation