Volvo Goes Green

Volvo Group—as in the company that makes trucks, and buses and construction equipment, not cars—has a strong commitment to the environment.

For example, they’re launching an electric bus on the streets of Gothenburg, Sweden. It operates on renewable electricity.

No noise pollution, either.

Last week, for example, Volvo Group North America announced that it achieved an environmental goal scheduled for 2020 five years earlier than anticipated.

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge, it set out to improve the energy efficiency in eight U.S. manufacturing facilities. (Volvo Trucks, Dublin, VA; Volvo Group Powertrain, Hagerstown, MD; Mack Trucks, Macungie, PA; Volvo Penta, Lexington, TN; Volvo Bus, Plattsburgh, NY; Volvo Group Remanufacturing in both Plattsburg, NY, and Charlotte, NC.)

The goal was a 25% reduction between 2009 and 2020.

By the end of 2014, they had reduced energy consumption by 26.8% compared to the 2009 baseline.

That accomplishment notwithstanding, Rick Robinson, director of health, safety and environment for Volvo Group North America, said, “We will continue to strive for improved energy efficiency.”

Who knows what they’ll accomplish in the next 4.5 years?