Class I honors: NS' Virginia office building earns ENERGY STAR rating; CP's Harrison garners maritime hall of fame induction

Norfolk Southern Corp.'s office building in Roanoke, Va., recently earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) ENERGY STAR certification, which signifies that the facility's energy efficiency is in the top 25 percent of similar buildings nationwide and that the building meets strict performance levels set by the EPA.

ENERGY STAR-certified commercial buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and release 35 percent less carbon dioxide.

To earn the certification, NS used real-time metering to monitor electricity usage; reanalyzed the building automation system to verify set points and startup/shutdown times; installed a new independent HVAC system for off-hour building use; upgraded exterior lights to LEDs; and replaced stairwell lights with on-demand LEDs. The measures will help NS save more than $60,000 a year in operating costs at the building.

The certification "demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs," said Andy Paul, NS' manager of energy services, in a press release. "ENERGY STAR is a great tool to compare our building performance with our peers."

Meanwhile, Canadian Pacific Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison recently was inducted into the Maritime Association of the Port of New York & New Jersey's International Maritime Hall of Fame.

The induction recognizes Harrison's leadership in intermodal transportation, customer service and logistics, and his promotion of efficient, reliable intermodal services for CP.

"Hunter Harrison is a rail visionary who leads to keep the international transportation industry strong and competitive in today's challenging business environment," said Edward Kelly, executive director of the Maritime Association of the Port of New York & New Jersey, in a prepared statement.