Saving Energy and Using Renewable Sources Helps UPS Meet Sustainability Goals
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Read UPS's Sustainability Report at sustainability.ups.com.
 Read the Report. |
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"Sleeping" Computers Save Energy, Money
UPS has joined the computer initiative known as the ENERGY STAR® Million
Monitor Drive. UPS is installing "sleep" software on 11,000 computers throughout
its Atlanta headquarters, as well as facilities in Louisville, Mo.; Timonium,
Md.; and Mahwah, N.J., to conserve energy while saving the company almost US$145,000
a year.
Most computers are used only an average of four hours each business day but continue to consume energy even when idle. The Million Monitor Drive challenges organizations to set computer monitors to go into a low-power "sleep" mode during periods of inactivity.
Several California Facilities Use Green Power
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GREEN POWER
Using "green" power at 14 facilities in California will prevent the release of 2.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide, and has the equivalent environ-mental impact of removing 213 cars from the road for a year.
This carbon reduction is equal to the carbon absorption capacity of 330 acres of trees.
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Several UPS facilities in California currently use "green" power
as part (up to 10 percent) of their electricity supplies. This power is supplied
by 3 Phases Energy Services and comes from biomass sources. Biomass refers
to a waste-to-energy process and can take the form of converting landfill gas,
human and animal waste or agricultural waste to energy.
UPS's commitment has resulted in joining the U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership, which recognizes companies that demonstrate environmental leadership by choosing cleaner and renewable energy sources.
Solar Power Drives Palm Springs Facility
UPS generates its own green power using solar panels at its facility in Palm Springs, Calif. The sun produces energy for the company's 23,000 square-foot sorting facility, courtesy of a 104.5 kilowatt solar panel array system installed on the rooftop by Shell Solar. The total system consists of three rows containing 145 panels, or 864 individual modules, covering an area approximately the size of a football field. The system uses photovoltaics, or the light from the sun, to generate electricity.
As part of the company's overall energy conservation and reduction strategy, UPS's solar project will investigate the viability of solar power in large commercial operations. The primary goal is to offset the energy consumed by the facility during its sorting operations. UPS's solar-generated energy will be provided back to the California power grid.
SOLAR POWER
During the day, while UPS drivers are busy making deliveries, 145 solar panels at the UPS Palm Springs facility are busy collecting most of the power that is needed to run the facility.
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Because UPS's sorting operations occur during the late evening or early
morning hours when the sun isn't shining, the panels cannot be used to
power sorting operations directly. Therefore, the energy generated from the panels
will be fed into the grid during daylight hours, and UPS will consume energy
from the grid during its sorting operations. This exchange, called "net
metering," will allow UPS to achieve nearly zero kilowatt per hour consumption
annually.
UPS Uses Photovoltaics To Offset Energy Consumption
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