Pittsburgh-based Alcoa has been recognized by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) for best practices in reducing energy consumption. The DOE has published a corporate energy management case study highlighting Alcoa's achievements over the past five years, including its reductions of 770 metric tons per year of nitrogen oxides, 1,600 metric tons per year of sulfur oxides and 420,000 metric tons per year of carbon dioxide.

According to company information, the Alcoa Energy Efficiency Network, formed in early 2002, has helped achieve these results. In its first 18 months of operation, the network reported that a total of 35 Alcoa facilities received energy-efficiency assessments, approximately 40 best practices were identified and about $60 million in annual savings opportunities were identified at the 35 assessed facilities. Alcoa plants so far have committed to pursue $40 million of these energy saving opportunities. In addition, operating costs have been reduced by more than $15 million annually.