Energy

GM’s Energy Stars: Kirill Vasilyev, St. Petersburg (Russia) Assembly

Oct 2, 2013 4:00 PM ET
Campaign: GM Energy Efficiency

GM BeyondNow

All this week we will be recognizing GM employees from across the globe who helped the company achieve the U.S. ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry earlier this year. Without their diligence and commitment to the goal, we would not be able to tout the fact that 63 plants have reduced 1.6 million metric tons of CO2 collectively.

Name: Kirill Vasilyev
Title: Site Utility Engineer
Facility: St. Petersburg Assembly (Russia)
Length of time with GM: Five years

 

1. What are some of the ways your facility cut energy intensity to meet the ENERGY STAR® Challenge for Industry?
We are sure to check all of our equipment regularly and switch off any unnecessary lighting. We also developed a strict schedule where our equipment is in use, and we turn all of it off during weekends and on holiday breaks. We also installed variable speed drives for electric motors in use at the plant. These drives regulate the speed of the motors for consistent energy use.

2. What are some tips you’ve picked up from your colleagues in the United States and/or internationally that you have incorporated into your facility’s energy savings program?
This past June, we were a part of an International Energy Saving Workshop where we exchanged ideas with other plants on how to optimize energy savings. In our case, we’ve taken the learnings and applied them to our plant in the form of double doors in the logistics area to cut down on escaping energy, optimized lighting in the warehouse, and swapped out older equipment for new equipment.

3. How do you engage employees to cut energy use in their day-to-day work?
An energy consumption plan is shared regularly with the team, and every week the results are checked and discussed with managers. Members of our team can which areas where energy output is high and then work to lower it.

4. What are some of the benefits you have seen at the plant since reducing energy usage by 10 percent?
It’s the financial savings that are the largest benefit. But we are also seeing employees starting to think more about energy savings and engaging in procedures to cut energy usage, so that’s encouraging.

5. What are some energy savings tips that you take home with you at the end of your day?
On the contrary. Some of the energy-savings tips that we implement at the plant get brought home with me at the end of the day. My house and family are more energy efficient because of the work I do day in and day out.