CSX – Ashish Chopra – 2012

Goals

Transportation firm CSX Corporation enlisted Ashish Chopra to identify energy efficiency in its freight rail operations across 23 states. Chopra analyzed electricity use, water use and waste production, as well as the costs of each, at nine different CSX facilities.

Solutions

Ultimately, Chopra recommended a lighting retrofit for one CSX facility and installing power factor correction equipment on the air compressors at all CSX hump yards – a total of 33 compressors. He also developed an employee engagement initiative to increase awareness of energy use and reduce CSX’s energy footprint, as well as a comprehensive tool to support the initiative.

Potential Impact

Together, these projects could save CSX $1.7 million in net operating costs over their lifetimes, reduce its annual energy footprint by 5.9 million kilowatt hours and reduce its annual carbon dioxide emissions by 4,200 metric tons.