Trenton South Engine Plant  

Chrysler Group employees are going beyond conventional thinking to help preserve and protect our environmental resources. That innovative spirit and dedication were honored during an Environmental Leadership Awards event on September 22 in Auburn Hills, MI.

Twenty-nine teams from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Venezuela, submitted projects.  Twenty-one were sent on for scoring by judges representing manufacturing, engineering, purchasing, PR and dealers.  

In the category to improve environmental performance at production sites or manufacturing facilities, the winner was Trenton South Engine Plant LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. After choosing to build the new Phoenix engine plant on a Brownfield, rather than a Greenfield site, the plant decided to pursue the highest standard of environmental sustainability in the five key areas of LEED certification: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials resource selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED is administered by the United States Green Building Council.

The Dealer DDS Delivery System Redesign team took home top honors in the category of improving products in research and development, operation and end of life-cycle. The award underscored the project’s improved customer service, transportation costcuts one word?, and dramatic reduction of diesel fuel and CO2 emissions by partnering with other OEMs in sharing truck space for customer deliveries in the same area. They also implemented an automotive first – cross border shipments from U.S. Distribution Centers direct to Canadian dealerships.

For projects related to improving internal/external communication, environmental awareness, and the environmental health and welfare of communities, local areas and regions, the Saltillo complex in Mexico project, “Developing an Environmental Way of Life,” won for raising environmental awareness in the plant and the community through energy, water and waste reduction projects, as well as introducing environmental education programs in local schools.

A new category this year honored dealership green initiatives. Frank C.Videon Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep in Edgemont, Pennsylvania won the category with a new dealership that’s not only beautiful and inviting, but “green” through-and-through. From high-efficiency light fixtures to insulated glass to a hybrid heating system and waterless urinals, the dealership sets the bar high for environmental efficiency and cost efficiency. And, they saved approximately 20 percent in a building two-and-a-half time bigger than their old facility.  

Congratulations to the winning teams, the runners-up, and all the teams who participated in helping further the company’s efforts to “Be Green.”