Siemens Building Technologies Inc. has reduced its total CO2 emissions by 4 percent and its total fleet CO2 output by 26 percent (both relative to revenue) in fiscal year 2008, according to the company's first sustainability report.
Siemens' report segments the company's sustainability strategy into "four pillars of success." These initiatives include reducing the negative environmental impacts of its products specifically in manufacturing, packaging and labeling; minimizing the environmental footprint of its operations; developing solutions that generate a positive impact on the environment for its customers, and providing transparency into the company's sustainability initiatives and activities.
A key focus of the company's first sustainability report is showing how it is applying the energy efficiency and green building practices that it provides to its customers in its own business operations
One key step taken in 2008 was completing a comprehensive CO2 inventory of its operations for fiscal years (FY) 2007 and 2008. The company reduced its total CO2 emissions in two primary manufacturing locations by 11 percent from FY2007 to FY2008 and 14 percent compared to FY2006. Siemens says this is a 25 percent reduction from FY2006 to FY2011 relative to revenue, which exceeds Siemens AG's goal of reducing energy and CO2 in manufacturing facilities by 20 percent.
At the corporate campus in Buffalo Grove, Ill., Siemens incorporated 20 percent renewable energy offsets last year, which reduced its CO2 emissions by more than 8 percent. Siemens also lowered water use by 8.4 percent in FY2008 over FY2007 and 15 percent over FY2005.
In addition, Siemens reduced electricity consumption by 5 percent in FY2008 at the Buffalo Grove campus and manufacturing facilities. The company also cut CO2 emissions for its service vehicle fleet by 10.4 percent over FY2007 and improved the average fuel economy of its entire fleet by 2.4 percent in FY2008.
Siemens also established a Local Sustainability Grant Program and more than quadrupled the number of LEED Accredited Professionals across its operations. The company expects the green renovation of its 77,000-sq.-foot facility in Beltsville, Md., in 2008, to earn the LEED-EB O&M silver rating.
