Success Stories in Ohio - Corporate Spotlight
Maybe the easiest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to increase the energy efficiency of business operations, from manufacturing processes and buildings to transportation and distribution systems. Improving energy efficiency in these areas not only reduces emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, but saves the company money as well. Energy is money, and in these times of high energy prices, saving energy makes good business sense.
A new low-carbon economy also spurs innovation and offers opportunities for new businesses. Ohio companies like Peter Cremer, First Solar, and Technical Consumer Products have found new business opportunities in manufacturing and marketing cleaner products that cut carbon dioxide emissions.
Nation-wide, companies are staying competitive by improving efficiency, investing in new technologies, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Recently, FedEx, the world's 2nd largest express shipping and logistics company debuted its new hybrid electric diesel vehicle that was developed by Cleveland-based Eaton Corporation. The hybrid vehicle - OptiFleet E700 - is 50% more fuel efficient than FedEx's typical delivery vehicle and cuts smog-forming pollutants by 75%. Twenty OptiFleet E700 vehicles are now on the road in Sacramento, New York, Tampa, and Washington D.C. FedEx plans to roll out 75 more hybrid delivery trucks nationwide in 2006. For every old delivery truck replaced by a new OptiFleet E700, FedEx saves 650 gallons of fuel and avoids 5.7 metric tons of CO2 emissions each year. With a fleet of thousands of trucks, that can add up to significant savings.