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While a lot of focus in the early goings of Chrysler Group LLC (officially formed June 9, 2009) has been on our vehicles and manufacturing, we're still keeping a close eye on Mother Earth and fellow citizens.
“We believe that economic and environmental success are not mutually exclusive,” said Chairman/CEO Sergio Marchionne. “We have made a choice not only to build up our own organization, but also to positively impact the environment and the communities where we live and work.
"And we will judge ourselves not only by our profitability, but also by how we achieve it.”
For some highlights, we pulled several facts from the report on what the company has already accomplished in its first full year:
- The Milwaukee (Wis.) Parts Distribution Center reduced landfill waste by more than 1.3 million kilograms per year at an annual cost savings of $39,000, a significant amount for a relatively small operation.
- Chrysler Group has been recognized for its diversity leadership by organizations such as DiversityInc magazine, Hispanic Business magazine, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, to name a few.
- Trenton (Mich.) South earned LEED Gold (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification status, the first engine plant in the world to earn this distinction. The plant reduced its CO2 emissions by more than 12,000 metric tons, compared with a traditionally constructed engine plant of similar size. This is equivalent to the annual CO2 output of 1,000 homes.
- The Warren (Mich.) Stamping Plant reduced its chemical usage to treat water for cooling industrial processes by $16,000 annually. A 100-gallon aquarium (pictured above) in the plant is continuously fed with filtered cooling water from this process, demonstrating that it is clean enough to support a variety of fish.
- To reduce fuel consumption and emissions, Chrysler Group is focusing on four key areas: powertrain systems; vehicle energy demand; driveline and axle design; and alternatively fueled powertrains, such as flex-fuel, compressed natural gas, hybrid and fully electrified vehicles
- The Windsor (Ont.) Assembly Plant reduced its energy footprint by partnering with a Canadian energy company that generates electricity for the grid via natural gas boilers and steam turbines. The plant purchases the energy company’s excess steam for use in general heating and production processes. This allows the Windsor Assembly Plant to substantially reduce its natural gas consumption by reusing waste by-products of electricity production, with the added benefits of decreasing the region’s air emissions and minimizing costs.
- The Toledo (Ohio) North Assembly Plant paint shop replaced 100% outside fresh air with mainly recycled ambient plant air as the input to the paint spray booths. The “cascading air” innovation results in an annual energy and water savings of $1.1 million, averting approximately 10,000 metric tons of air pollutants through direct and indirect energy reduction. Additionally, this feature reduces water use by more than 7,500 cubic meters.
**Courtesy of Blog Chrysler.com by Mike Driehorst
