GE Unveils Aggressive Water Reduction Target To Free
Up Fresh Water Supplies
May 28, 2008
Company Pledges to Reduce Fresh Water Use by 20 percent by 2012
Beijing, China; Brussels, Belgium, and Fairfield, CT — GE Chairman and CEO
Jeff Immelt today launched a new ecomagination commitment, announcing a
company-wide absolute 20% fresh water reduction target by 2012. The new
initiative is one of the world's most aggressive corporate water reduction
targets to date and is expected to save 7.4 million cubic meters (2 billion
U.S. gallons) of fresh water – enough water to fill more than 3,000
Olympic-sized swimming pools.
"Harnessing our technologies and global capabilities, GE's commitment sets
the standard for water footprint reductions," said Jeff Immelt, Chairman and
CEO, GE. "We will use our broad portfolio to reduce water consumption,
ensure long-term supplies and increase operational returns at GE facilities
around the world."
In 2006, GE used approximately 37 million cubic meters (10 billion U.S.
gallons) of fresh water. Using this figure as a baseline, GE will
aggressively implement water reuse and process efficiencies to meet the
company's absolute water reduction target. Selective GE sites will decrease
water use by applying process efficiencies and/or reusing highly treated
wastewater for a variety of commercial and manufacturing needs, such as,
boiler feed water, cooling tower make-up, heat exchangers and manufacturing
processes. GE will use the same portfolio of water-saving solutions to help
reduce municipal, industrial and agriculture customers' fresh water use.
As part of the water reduction target, GE will also use its industry-proven
water assessment tools to help customers, like Baosteel Group Corporation,
evaluate water use, identify efficiency goals and metrics and deliver
solutions that meet customers' environmental and regulatory goals.
"We are delighted to be working together with GE in water reduction and
other areas," said Xu Lejiang, Chairman of Baosteel Group Corporation. "Baosteel
promises to continue reducing its water consumption; sharing its experiences
with industry peers; and improving overall water resource management in the
steel industry. Baosteel believes that efficient use of limited water
resources will lead to unlimited, sustainable development of our business."
"Water conservation and reuse can be a valuable tool for customers to reduce
operating costs and create new sources of revenue," said Jeff Garwood,
president and CEO, GE Water & Process Technologies. "In fact, our water
solutions treat millions of cubic meters of water a day -- allowing our
customers to minimize their exposure to water scarcity, reduce costs and
water footprints."
In addition to announcing the water reduction commitment, GE also released a
comprehensive water reuse white paper designed to help communities and other
governmental authorities to increase recycling and reuse of water in their
area. The white paper includes a menu of policies and global best practices
that are being used in different locations around the world and identifies
four major policies to increase recycling and reuse: education and outreach;
removing barriers; incentives; mandates and regulation.
Launched in May 2005, ecomagination is GE's commitment to imagine and build
innovative technologies that help customers address their environmental and
financial needs and help GE grow. A report issued today is the third annual
accounting on how the strategic investment is delivering for GE, its
customers and investors.
For more information on ecomagination, please visit: www.ge.com/ecomagination.
Please visit GE's press room at www.ecomagination.com/press.
About GE
GE is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology, media and financial
services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems.
With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation,
water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and
consumer financing, and media content, GE serves customers in more than 100
countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more
information, visit the company's Web site at
http://www.ge.com .
SOURCE: GE
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