Silicon Valley Companies Reduce CO2 Emissions

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Sustainable Silicon Valley (SSV), a regional collaboration of business, government, and nonprofit organizations, on Dec. 8 released a report that details how leading SSV partners, including Adobe Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, and Roche Palo Alto, have reduced their carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from electricity and natural gas by an average of 27 percent — more than twice the region as a whole.

Of SSV’s 100 members, 22 have already met or exceeded 2010 CO₂ emissions reductions goals, with aggregate reductions of 850,000 tons — equivalent to taking half a million homes off the PG&E grid for a year.

“Not only does our 2008 report explain SSV’s proven, workable model for environmental quality and economic vitality, but our partners’ results from the CO₂ Emission Reduction Initiative demonstrate that the state’s AB32 goals are possible to achieve and can deliver a significant return on investment for businesses, local governments, and organizations of all sizes,” said Bruce Paton, chair of SSV. The collaboration’s goal is to reduce the regional CO₂ emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels (32.2 million tons) by the year 2010. “SSV works because partners voluntarily pledge to help meet regional emission reduction targets by focusing on organization-specific pathways to success that are uniquely cost-effective for each partner. Partners also report progress, share information, and mentor one another,” said Paton.

The report details key factors for successfully implementing cost-effective sustainability initiatives (including funding, ROI, green teams) as well as key trends — such as extending producer responsibility, greening fleets, and increasing water recycling — that Silicon Valley organizations must be prepared to address in 2009 and beyond.

The report can be found at www.SustainableSiliconValley.org.