General Motors Corporate Responsibility Newsletter - November 2013
General Motors Corporate Responsibility Newsletter
November 2013
HEADLINE:
Dan Akerson Champions Energy Security and Environmental Commitment
General Motors Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson spoke at an energy security summit in Washington DC this month. Not only did he reinforce the need for a national energy policy, he announced we’ll build a 2015 Chevrolet Impala sedan for retail and fleet customers that can switch seamlessly from CNG to gasoline.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
GM Announces 1.8 Megawatt Solar Project in Ohio
General Motors announced that a 1.8-megawatt rooftop solar array at its Toledo Transmission plant in Ohio would be completed this month. GM announced the project at the Solar Power International conference in Chicago, where the Solar Energy Industries Association named GM a “Solar Champion.” The award recognizes companies that significantly impact establishment of a strong solar industry in America.
SEIA Again Recognizes GM for Stellar Solar Use
The Solar Energy Industries Association, the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry, released its second annual Solar Means Business report this month, identifying commercial solar projects and ranking America’s top corporate solar users. Once again, General Motors made the list.
Recap: GM’s Energy Stars Series
Learn how five GM energy managers helped their facilities reduce energy use and helped the company achieve the U.S. ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry last year. Their hard work and dedication to the energy cause were a big part of the reason why 63 plants reduced 1.2 million metric tons of CO2 collectively.
RESOURCE PRESERVATION
GM España’s Zaragoza Employees Set Sail for Water Conservation
To commemorate the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation, 60 employees from GM’s Zaragoza facility in Spain learned about water conservation first-hand during a two-day outing that included a tour of environmentally protected lands and a 12-kilometer (about 10 miles) canoe trip down the Ebro River, from which the plant sources the water used for its daily operations.
The Importance of Telling Your Environmental Story
Sharon Basel, GM’s manager of environment, energy and safety communications, shares insight on the important leadership role companies should take in educating the next generation of environmental stewards, and how GM communicates and demonstrates its environmental leadership through frequent classroom visits and programs like GM GREEN.
GREENER VEHICLES
Chevrolet Introduces CNG-Capable Bi-Fuel Impala
Chevrolet announced the 2015 Impala bi-fuel sedan – the only original equipment manufacturer-produced full-size sedan in North America capable of running on either cleaner-burning, mostly domestically produced compressed natural gas (CNG) or gasoline.
Fuel Cell Equinox Tops 100,000 Miles in Real-World Driving
One of General Motors’ fuel cell research vehicles recently passed a milestone for a hydrogen-powered vehicle, topping 100,000 miles of real-world driving. The specially equipped 2007 Chevrolet Equinox was part of GM’s 119-vehicle Project Driveway program. By using renewable hydrogen, this vehicle has saved 5,260 gallons of gasoline.
Cadillac ELR Sales to Begin in January
Initial sales of the 2014 Cadillac ELR electrified luxury coupe will begin in January in all major U.S. metropolitan areas featuring provocative design and extended range electric vehicle technology.
EcoCAR: Turning Students Into Professional Engineers – Dan Mehr
Dan Mehr, a battery integration engineer at GM, explains how advanced vehicle technology competitions prepared him to enter the automotive workforce. He now serves as a competition organizer for the EcoCAR2 competition, working with more than 250 students at 15 different universities and getting them excited about working in the automotive industry.
PHILANTHROPY
Chevrolet Supports Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Chevrolet and General Motors employees, dealers and customers will unite for the third consecutive year in the fight against breast cancer. Together with the American Cancer Society, Chevrolet provides nationwide grassroots support of the Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® walks and other activities.
GM Foundation Donates $150,000 to MADD
The General Motors Foundation is donating $150,000 to Mothers Against Drunk Driving to expand prevention education initiatives and provide support services to victims of drunk driving crashes and their families.
