Innovating for a greener future: JLG’s commitment to energy efficiency and conservation

Oshkosh Corporation is committed to advancing industries the right way - the Oshkosh Way. Our innovative engineering and technology solutions stem from a culture that prioritizes creating a greener tomorrow. At Oshkosh, our industry-leading technology and investments in electrification are making strides in zero-emission vehicles, but we don't stop there. We're dedicated to powering operations, designing solutions and supporting communities with sustainability at the forefront.

Demonstrating this commitment, JLG Industries, an Oshkosh Corporation business and the world's leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of access equipment, is pioneering environmentally friendly lift and access equipment. Customers demand green solutions, aligning with JLG's belief that sustainability drives responsible manufacturing, careful resource management and environmentally sound products and services.

All domestic Oshkosh manufacturing facilities are members of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Better Plants Program, pledging to reduce energy consumption by 25% over 10 years. JLG achieved this goal in eight years.

As part of its pledge, JLG utilized the DOE's 50001 Ready Program - a self-paced and no-cost energy management system (EnMS) that integrates energy management into existing business systems, enabling organizations to better manage their energy and sustain achieved savings. Companies use the EnMS to establish policies and procedures that track, analyze and improve energy efficiency. ISO 50001 is the global standard for energy management systems and provides organizations with an internationally recognized framework for implementing an EnMS.

"The benefits of participating in the 50001 Ready energy management program extend beyond company commitments and customer expectations," explained Jason Grentus, senior environmental manager for JLG Industries. "It assists facilities in evaluating and prioritizing the implementation of new energy-efficient technologies and improving energy efficiency, use and consumption. And, for anyone in the environmental field, the understanding is that energy management is one of the pillars of conservation."

JLG joined the Pennsylvania State University Technical Assistant Program (PennTAP) 50001 Ready Cohort as it prepared to take two of its Pennsylvania facilities - Shippensburg and McConnellsburg - through the 50001 Ready process. With two sites in the same cohort, JLG staff at both locations pushed one another to do better, resulting in shared information and insights that improved overall energy performance at both sites.

McConnellsburg attributes its 50001 Ready success to heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades, while Shippensburg achieved its largest reductions through lighting and controls. Both sites implemented end-of-shift checklists related to energy efficiency and new team member orientation that includes energy management training.

The McConnellsburg facility's compressor room upgrades are featured in a DOE case study. The compressor room upgrade was one of the largest projects stemming from the 50001 Ready Program. JLG removed five compressors of varying size throughout the facility and replaced them with three 125hp and one 110hp compressors all in one location. JLG then added air vents with automatic louvers to aid in circulation and installed a heat recovery system to reuse the winter waste heat by pumping it into a nearby room instead of pushing it outside. These changes freed up facility space and allowed JLG to operate more efficiently, utilizing a larger air storage tank to reduce the demand and pull from the compressors. The entire project is estimated to save over 607,000 kWh per year. In fact, this amount of energy was enough to power 56 average sized homes in 2022.

"Protecting the environment is a JLG core value," added Kevin Tubbs, vice president and chief environmental and sustainability officer. "Our goal is to reduce waste and emissions, minimize environmental impacts, promote resource conservation and improve energy performance. It's not just something we say; every team member shares the responsibility for energy reduction, sustainability and performance."

JLG's development and maintenance of environmental and energy management systems at our facilities is just one part of our sustainability journey. Learn more about how we're creating a company, a culture and a world that will thrive far into the future by reading our latest sustainability report.