We strive to reduce emissions & petroleum dependence by being more energy efficient.
Summary
- We reduced energy use at our global facilities 31% between 2005 and 2010.
- We house 30 MW of solar energy at seven facilities, with plans to double that output by 2015.
- Our Zaragoza, Spain facility features the world’s largest industrial rooftop solar installation.
- We are the second largest industrial user of landfill gas in the United States.
- We reduced CO2 emissions by 30% from 2005 to 2010.
- Chevrolet is investing up to $40 million in carbon-reduction projects across America.
Reducing Energy Use
Being smart about our energy use is great for the environment and saves us money. For example, lighting upgrades and other efficiency projects save us $2.5 million per year at our Chevrolet Volt factory.
By using energy-efficient lighting, tracking hourly consumption, upgrading to more efficient heating and cooling systems, and shutting down equipment when it’s not used, we reduced energy use at our global facilities 31%* between 2005 and 2010. These savings reduced greenhouse gas emissions by about 3.34 million metric tons during that timeframe.
We also strive to build and renovate in an environmentally responsible way. We have facilities with gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program: Lansing Delta Township Assembly in Lansing, Mich., and GM's Shanghai campus. When it first opened, the Lansing Delta Township building was the largest industrial project to receive LEED certification. We hope to achieve LEED certification at our new Joinville, Brazil engine plant and at our Warren, Mich. data center that’s being designed for optimal energy efficiency.
*Reduction of 28% on a per vehicle produced basis
Renewable Energy
We believe in harnessing power from the sun, water and landfill gases, and are one of the leading users of renewable energy in the manufacturing sector.
We can house nearly 30 megawatts of solar power at seven facilities, and we have plans to double output to 60 megawatts by 2015. That’s enough energy to power nearly 10,000 homes in the United States for a year. We are the home of California’s first 1MW solar array, the world’s largest industrial rooftop installation in Zaragoza, Spain, and seven facilities with solar charging canopies on their grounds.
We’re also the second largest industrial user of landfill gas in the United States. Four of our manufacturing facilities use it as an energy source, generating $5 million in savings in 2010. And, GM Mexico uses hydro power from two nearby irrigation dams and two GM Brazil plants use it to power a portion of their operations.
Reducing Emissions
As a result of our energy efficiency initiatives, our global facilities achieved a 30%* reduction in CO2 emissions between 2005 and 2010.
To supplement traditional efficiency initiatives, Chevrolet is investing up to $40 million in various carbon-reduction projects throughout America with a goal to reduce up to 8 million metric tons of CO2 emissions over the next five years. We estimate our carbon-reduction goal equates to the emissions released in 2011 from driving the 1.9 million vehicles Chevrolet is expected to sell in the United States between November 18, 2010 and December 31, 2011.
*Reduction of 28% on a per vehicle produced basis
