Spring 2009 issue of Horizons

Guest FEATURE Clark Davis, HOK (cont.)

trailer truck units. Unilever and Procter & Gamble are increasing the concentration of liquid soap products so they can be delivered in smaller bottles – saving many tons of plastic every year. Target has cut its waste by 70 percent, recycling everything from old batteries to shopping carts. Among initiatives in the auto industry, Chrysler reduced its manufacturing energy consumption by 15 percent per vehicle between 2002 and 2006. I recently had an opportunity to participate in a sustainability roundtable with executives from Chevron, Microsoft and Enterprise Rent-A-Car – all HOK clients. Each of these companies has its own economic challenges today, but each is pursuing an environmental agenda because of bottom-line financial returns as well as social responsibility. Chevron Energy Solutions, for instance, began by making improvements that saved Chevron more than $6 million a year in energy costs – and is building its business by doing the same for other major customers.

The current economic slowdown will likely be a catalyst that spurs additional sustainable innovation and support. More sustainable facilities – “green” buildings and workplaces – represent enormous opportunities to improve the natural environment and the health of the peoplewhooccupy them.Weknow that buildingsaccount for about 50 percent of total U.S. energy use, mostly in the form of fossil fuels used for heating and electrical power generation. Buildings are therefore responsible for a large percentage of our carbon emissions, and any improvements in building energy efficiency are very significant for the environment as a whole. We’ll have our chance to demonstrate that difference, because it’s estimated that 75 percent of our buildings in the year 2030 will be new or renovated relative to those we have today.

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u spring 2009 issue