The Coca-Cola Company: Retooling Its Atlanta Headquarters to Conserve Natural Resources, Combat Climate Change
Collaboration with Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute is good for the environment and good for business Actions to eliminate over 10,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions each year, save in excess of $1 million in annual operating costs
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The Coca-Cola Company today announced that it was implementing measures to reduce energy consumption at its two million square foot world headquarters by 23 percent and reduce its water consumption by nearly 15 percent. These efforts are expected to eliminate more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, which is the equivalent of removing 2,000 cars from the road.
"By taking bold measures to conserve natural resources in our own backyard, we want to send a message to companies and individuals that combating a leading global environmental problem demands local action," said Bryan Jacob, The Coca-Cola Company's energy and climate protection manager. "We all have a role to play, from using energy-efficient lighting where we can, to repairing leaky faucets and watering our lawns only in the morning and the evening. Each leaky faucet in our homes or offices could be wasting 180 gallons of water per week."
The Coca-Cola Company's efforts to protect the Earth's climate at its Atlanta headquarters include an approximate $3 million investment in energy-efficient lighting and air conditioning equipment, rainwater harvesting techniques and advanced irrigation control systems. Furthermore, Coca-Cola will continue to enhance its state-of-the-art building automation system to increase the effectiveness of these improvements.
"As the number one ingredient in our beverages and an essential component to life on Earth, water is important to our Company," Jacob continued. "Since climate change will have a profound impact on freshwater resources, we are making water conservation - in our plants around the world and at our headquarters - a priority. The irrigation improvement projects at our Atlanta Office Complex will reduce the water used for landscaping by an estimated 75 percent."
The Coca-Cola Company is collaborating with Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute in these efforts to reduce water and energy consumption. "Companies have long embraced innovation to improve their products, services and operating practices, but we've entered a new era in which new technologies can help us become even better stewards of the natural resources that sustain our businesses," said Bill Meffert, group manager of the Environmental and Energy Management Services Division with the Enterprise Innovation Institute. "Companies like Coca-Cola have the ability to make a tremendous impact in their operations and through the example they set for others."
Currently, The Coca-Cola Company's Atlanta Office Complex spends over $6 million annually on utilities, and substantial efforts to improve efficiency have been phased in gradually over the last ten years. For example, a recent project converted the North Avenue Tower's famous marquee from neon to more energy efficient LED lighting that is expected to produce over $10,000 a year in energy savings.
The initiative being announced today represents a significant increase in the Company's efforts to deliver even better results faster. Many of these planned upgrades are already underway and all are expected to be finished within the next twelve to eighteen months.
The Coca-Cola Company's environmental protection efforts - global water stewardship, sustainable packaging and energy and climate protection - address areas that are most important to its business and are where the company can make the biggest impact. Each of these initiatives helps reduce the company's carbon footprint.
The Company's announcement comes ahead of Earth Day, which is commemorated in the United States and around the world on April 22. Since it was first celebrated in 1970, Earth Day has helped focus national attention on the progress that businesses, individuals, communities, governments and other organizations are making to protect the environment.
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola(R), recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brands, including Diet Coke(R), Fanta(R) and Sprite(R), and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light beverages, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, energy and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.4 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
Source: The Coca-Cola Company
Released April 20, 2007