“This strong environmental performance stems directly from the ingenuity and engagement of our entire Boeing team.” – Kim Smith, vice president of Environment, Health and Safety “The plant is beautiful; it’s more comfortable and enjoyable to come to work,” said aircraft technician Deneen Beck. “And with the windows now we can see the flight line and the products we’re making in the air. That really adds to the pride.” n patrick.a.summers@boeing.com BOEING FRONT IERS / AUGUST 2013 period, the company had met its goals of reducing energy and water use and carbon dioxide emissions, and generating less solid and hazardous waste. During the same period, Boeing’s overall business grew substantially: Total deliveries increased by more than 50 percent; the company opened a major new manufacturing facility in South Carolina; 13,000 new jobs were created across the company. “This strong environmental performance stems directly from the ingenuity and engagement of our entire Boeing team,” said Kim Smith, vice president of Environment, Health and Safety. “This involvement will help us achieve continued improvements over the next five years.” Boeing is committed to zero-carbon growth by 2017 while continuing to ramp up production, Smith said. The company aims to reduce its environmental footprint, from design and manufacture through in-service use and end-of-service recycling and disposal. Through this strategy, called Design for Environment, engineers “design in” greater energy efficiency and sustainable materials and “design out” carbon emissions, hazardous materials and community noise. “Boeing is committed to responsible environmental leadership. We are building a better Boeing and helping build a better planet,” Smith said. The improvements in Boeing’s environmental performance are the result of innovative projects, often led by employee teams, at facilities across the company. For example, the St. Louis site, where Boeing makes the F-15 and F/A-18 jet fighters, has cut its water use by 20 percent over the past five years, thanks in part to a water-conservation plan devised by employees. The plan substantially increases the amount of water reused on-site instead of being discharged into the local storm sewers. “It’s gratifying to put a conservation plan in place and be able to see the improvements,” said Gary Buford, an environmental engineer at that facility. And near Philadelphia, the renovation of the Chinook helicopter assembly factory includes windows and skylights that let in natural light and reduce energy use. Two new boilers have cut the site’s carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 14 percent and energy bills by $1 million a year. PHOTOS: (Opposite page, clockwise from top left) Environmentally engaged employees at Seattle’s Spares Distribution Center help the facility cut waste and boost recycling. Clockwise from top left are Desmond Chanez, Joe Schoepfer, Dae Groseclose, Dave Mulhall and Sandy Holtman. Bob Ferguson/Boeing Gary Buford tests water quality in St. Louis. Ron Bookout/Boeing Blake Izatt, left, and Chrystal Jacobsen help collect solid waste at Boeing Salt Lake, one of five sites that send zero waste to landfills. (This page) Deneen Beck, background, and Kim Lehman look out at the flight line through large windows that use daylight to help reduce energy use at the renovated Chinook helicopter assembly building near Philadelphia. Fred Troilo/Boeing 31
Frontiers August 2013 Issue
To see the actual publication please follow the link above