GEORGETOWN, Ky. (June 3, 2026) – A breath of fresh air to paint operations earned the Toyota Kentucky engineering team a 2026 Better Project Award from the U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings & Plants Initiative.

With innovative thinking and a redesign, the Toyota Kentucky Production Engineering team was able to decrease outside air flow into the Fresh Air Supply House (FASH) by more than 55 percent by using building air. In return, the annual paint booth energy costs were reduced by more than 80 percent.

“As part of our Environmental Challenge 2050, Toyota is committed to reducing the operational electric and natural gas usage,” Tim Hilgeman, general manager of Toyota environmental sustainability, said. “This is a great example of how our production engineers innovate in North America, resulting in impactful projects, like the FASH in Georgetown.”

Previously, the FASH on Line 1 at Toyota Kentucky used 100 percent outside air for processing, with no other option to reduce outside air intake. The new design reduces the total amount of outside air to be processed, which saves energy costs to treat the outside air. By using pre-tempered inside air, the team has reduced energy demand to ensure the building temperatures remain stable as they process nearly 250,000 vehicles each year.

“The Toyota Environmental and Production Engineering team has designated paint shops as a major focus for energy reduction efforts,” Adam Suleiman, Toyota Kentucky production engineer and project lead, said. “Working with the Environmental Engineering team, we were able to integrate both energy and cost savings into the redesign of the FASH.”

The Better Project Awards recognize accomplishments at individual industrial facilities for implementing energy, water, and waste reduction efficiency measures. The annual awards highlight select partners for innovative and industry-leading accomplishments in implementing and promoting procedures and principles for energy management.