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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Toyota's "green" efforts at its Huntsville engine plant have paid off.

The company announced Thursday it took home five awards this week for environmental excellence. Here is the complete list of honors:

• EPA ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry - reduction of energy use by 14 percent (per unit produced) in one year.

• Three Toyota North America Environmental Awards - outstanding performance in energy and water management plus overall environmental improvement unit plant. The reduction in water use is equivalent to 75 million water bottles. The plant has received this award for eight consecutive years.

• City of Huntsville Air Pollution Control Achievement Award - reduction of electric usage by 4.3 gigawatt hours per year (enough to power 400 average households for a year).

Toyota and its 14 vehicle assembly, engine and parts factories across North America -- including the zero waste-to-landfill Huntsville site -- were also awarded EPA's ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award for the 10th straight year.

During the past 11 years, Toyota's 14 North American plants have saved more than $500 million as a result of energy improvements and reduced energy use by 22 percent per vehicle produced. The Alabama plant is currently using harvested rainwater in the manufacturing process and end-of-life hybrid vehicle batteries to power the facility and provide back-up power during emergencies.

Full Article: http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2014/10/toyota_alabamas_huntsville_ope.html