New GM Plant Most Environmentally Friendly In The World

[nsap]

New GM Plant Most Environmentally Friendly In The World









Lansing, Mich. -- General Motors’ new Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant has received a gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The building is the only automotive manufacturing plant in the world – as well as the largest facility and the most complex manufacturing site -- to ever receive any level of LEED certification.
LEED certification is the building industry’s well-respected recognition of superior energy and environmental design and construction. A gold certification recognizes a high level of performance.
Over the first ten years of operations, the facility is expected to save over 40 million gallons of water and 30 million kwh of electricity.
“Lansing Delta Township is the first of the next generation of industrial buildings,” said David Skiven, executive director, GM Worldwide Facilities Group. “It proves that sustainable manufacturing buildings can be economically built and operated. We are extremely proud of the innovative thinking of our employees and partners on the team that made this possible.”
Lansing Delta Township is one of just 550 buildings worldwide that are LEED certified at any level – of these buildings, only a third are certified at the gold level.
“General Motors has a global commitment to reduce the impact of its operations on the environment,” said Elizabeth Lowery, GM vice president, Environment and Energy. “In our older, established facilities, we are constantly making changes as we renovate buildings to keep them current with state-of-the-art environmental practices. At Lansing Delta Township it was a great experience to be able to start from scratch to design and build the world’s most environmentally advanced auto manufacturing plant.”
The plant will produce GM’s new crossover vehicles -- the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave– and will start production during the fourth quarter of 2006.
Commenting on the certification, U.S. Green Building Council President S. Richard Fedrizzi noted that the acceptance of green buildings has been slower within the manufacturing sector than for other commercial uses.
“GM’s Lansing Delta Township Plant is a very good – and large – example of how it’s possible to incorporate sustainable practices into large scale manufacturing facilities,” Fedrizzi said. “Today, not only is it possible, it is cost and energy efficient, and provides a healthy environment for employees. We expect GM’s plant will change the way manufacturing buildings are built in the future.”
Paul Lemley, senior vice president and general manager, Alberici Group, which partnered with GM on the design and construction of the facility, said: “ Alberici is in the unique position of being heavily involved in both the automotive industry and the movement toward low environmental impacts for buildings. Our leadership in these areas allows us to state with certainty that GM has set a new standard for environmental concern with this new facility. No other manufacturer has created a facility of this magnitude with such low immediate and long term impact to the environment. This is a quantum leap forward for the industry. General Motors has done more than just talk about how the industry needs to respond to protect the environment; they have acted in a new and powerful way to demonstrate how this can be done.”
Paul Faeth, managing director of World Resources Institute, an independent nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., that studies environmental and development issues, said: "GM has been a leader in the application of efficiency and renewables for quite some time. This award is a well-deserved recognition of the company's commitment to sound environmental management of their facilities." GM is a member of WRI's Green Power Market Development Group.
Some of the environmental highlights of the Lansing Delta Township plant include:
Energy and Atmosphere

• Energy efficiency was designed into most systems, resulting in energy costs that are 45 percent lower than industry standards, with a projected savings of $1 million per year.
• Bright task lighting and lower overhead lighting levels reduced lighting energy used in the plant by 20 percent, or 3 million kwh annually.
• The 1.5 million square foot roof is made of a special white polymer that reduces heat absorption, resulting in reduced costs to cool the building.
• No ozone-depleting substances (CFCs, HCFCs or halons) are used in any of the building’s heating and cooling, refrigeration, and fire suppression systems.

Materials and Resources

• Of the construction materials used for the plant, more than 25 percent was composed of recycled content.
• More than 60 percent of all materials used in the construction of the building were sourced through manufacturers located within 500 miles, supporting the local economy and reducing transportation energy costs.
• Of the waste generated during construction, 80 percent, or 3,963 tons, was diverted from landfills.

Water Efficiency

• Non-manufacturing water use has been reduced by 45 percent, for a savings of over 4.1 million gallons of water annually.
• Rainwater is collected from the roof by a cutting-edge roof drain system. It is then stored in cisterns above rest rooms and is used instead of potable water to flush toilets.
• Waterless urinals that use a filter-based technology save over 1 million gallons of water annually.

Sustainable Site

• 50 percent of the site was left undeveloped. 75 acres has been set aside to preserve existing plants and wildlife habitat.
• Storm water at the site is managed through an innovative system that uses unpaved ditches and culverts. This system allows much of the water to be naturally absorbed into the soil and groundwater in the area, and filters out solids before water leaves the site.
• All landscaping added to the site consists of either native species or specially adapted drought-resistant plants to eliminate the need for an irrigation system.

“The good environmental decisions made regarding Lansing Delta Township were also good business decisions,” said Skiven. “The cost to construct the plant was less than a traditional assembly plant, and its operating costs also are significantly lower.”
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world’s leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential and commercial financing and insurance. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
Lansing Delta Township is 2.4 million square feet and will have approximately 3,000 team members when in full production. Lansing Delta Township Assembly is critical to GM's global manufacturing strategy, and sets the world standard for a state-of-the-art, innovative, high-tech automotive manufacturing facility of the future. The LEED certification covers the buildings housing the body shop, general assembly, administration building and visitor’s center. The buildings housing the paint shop and regional stamping activities on site are not covered by the LEED certification because they were previously contracted and constructed.
The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. More information on USBBC can be found at http://www.usgbc.org/.

General Motors
Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant
Environmental Highlights
LEED Certification

Recipient of Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

• Lansing Delta Township is the only automotive manufacturing plant – as well as the largest facility and the most complex manufacturing site – to ever receive LEED certification.
• Lansing Delta Township is one of just 505 buildings worldwide that are LEED certified at any level – of these buildings, only a third are certified at the Gold level.
• U.S. Green Building Council: http://www.usgbc.org

Sustainable Sites
More than 50 percent of the site was left undeveloped. 75 acres has been set aside to preserve existing plants and wildlife habitat.
Storm water at the site is managed through an innovative system of detention bioswales, ditches and culverts.

• Special plants were used in the ditches and culverts to help filter out solids and phosphorous before the water leaves the site
• Unpaved ditches and culverts allow water to be naturally absorbed into the soil and groundwater in the area.

All landscaping added to the site consists of either native species or special adapted drought-resistant plants.

• There is no need for a permanent irrigation system, which reduces the site’s use of water.

A reflective, white roof keeps air outside the buildings from heating up and causing negative effects on nearby plants and animals.

• The 1.5 million square foot roof is made of an ENERGY STAR compliant material.

Water Efficiency
Non-manufacturing water use at Lansing Delta Township has been reduced by 45 percent, for a savings of over 4.1 million gallons of water a year, compared to a similar-sized facility using traditional technology.

• Rainwater is collected from the roof, based on a cutting-edge roof drain system. It is then stored in cisterns above rest rooms and is used instead of potable water to flush toilets.
• Waterless urinals that flush using a filter-based technology, save over 1 million gallons of water annually.
• Municipal water used for sewage conveyance decreased by about 70 percent.
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures are used throughout the facility.
• Native and drought-resistant plantings on site eliminate the need for a permanent irrigation system and associated water usage.

Energy and Atmosphere
Energy efficiency was designed into most systems, resulting in energy costs for the facility that are 45 percent lower than industry standards, with a projected savings of $1 million per year.

• Lighting in the plant consists of bright task lighting where needed and lower overall lighting in areas such as aisles, reducing the lighting energy used by about 20 percent compared to a typical auto assembly plant.
• The 1.5 million square foot roof is made of a special white polymer that reduces heat absorbtion, resulting in reduced costs to cool the building in the summer.
• No ozone-depleting substances (CFCs, HCFCs or halons) are used in any of the building’s equipment, including heating and cooling, refrigeration, and fire-suppression systems.

Materials and Resources
Of the construction materials used for the plant, more than 25 percent of the content was recycled and more than 60 percent was sourced through local manufacturers.

• Recycled content was used in items ranging from the structural steel to concrete used on the site. Office furniture salvaged from other GM facilities was reused at the plant. Office cubicle walls were salvaged and reconfigured onsite by UAW represented workers.
• More than 60 percent of all materials used in the construction of the building were sourced through manufacturers located within 500 miles, in order to support the local economy and to reduce transportation energy costs. This represents an investment in the local infrastructure of $33.8 million.
• More than 38 percent of the building products used for the project were made using raw materials extracted within 500 miles.
• Of the waste generated during demolition and construction, 80 percent was diverted from local landfills. Concrete was crushed and used as gravel on site, as well as being sold by the recycler to other customers. Steel was sold to a smelter and recycled into steel products. Wood and cardboard also were recycled. A total of 3,963 tons of solid waste was reclaimed during construction as a result of an ambitious on-site waste segregating activity.

Indoor Environmental Quality
During construction, an extensive indoor air quality management plan was in place to assure good indoor air quality for construction workers and final building occupants.
Paints, adhesives, sealants, carpets, and composite woods used in construction were selected to limit the off-gassing of indoor chemical pollutants.

[kenman923]

Wow. I wonder if other plants will be refurbished or replaced in favor of this same technology.

[5.3Avalanche]

GM should publicize this...it's very good PR.

[betron02]

Good for GM

[megeebee]

If I were GM I'd be crowing about this.

[GM_Fanatic]

GM, advertise the heck out of this in the ad's when you debut the Outlook! It is worth it!

[2007CTS]

Originally Posted by GM_Fanatic

GM, advertise the heck out of this in the ad's when you debut the Outlook! It is worth it!

I agree, They should definitely use this. This is Great for GM.

[01cavalier]

Great, GM does have a good record of being environmentally friendly with their plants, especially the newer ones.

[DuSpinnst]

Shiny new plant.... ohhhh....ahhhh....yay!

[sigma]

You know the ads about Toyota Hybrid Synergy drive... GM should do ads talking about its green initiatives and all of the pollution it doesn't create.

Chevron had the "People Do." ads back in the day, and BP has a really interesting ad campaign. GM should start something like that, and it could be as simple as part of the ad campaign using a green GM logo instead of the blue one.

[Canyonaro]

This is great news in 2 ways I see. First it helps nature and you don't have to bein a fairy land like Toyota to do it. Second it helps GM save money that can really add up. Great PR since they have the biggest green plant around.

[Havasavana]

I don't know much about how GM's plants are overall regarding environmental protection but the Tonawanda engine plant achieved zero landfill status earlier this year. Given that it's the largest engine plant in the world, that's a big deal too. Good time to be a GM PR person if they have the backing.

[prototype66]

Home town pride!!!! right in by own back yard!!!!!!

[macphisto]

Time to tout all of GM's environmental successes.

Hammer companies that merely tout the cleanliness of the product and state that GM not only cares about the cleanliness of the end product but the cleanliness of the entire process of making the product.

I think it'd also be great to emphasize nationally how much money GM invests in America. While Toyota and Honda build plants here, the impact is not as large as GM's. I'd be interested to see how local all the materials for the ToyoHonda plants are compared to GMs plants. GM may have a greater impact on the local economy.

[paul3230]

GM should really run an advertisement about this....something Toyota doesn't have!