Finelite recently achieved an important environmental milestone by offsetting 100 percent of the carbon emissions associated with office and assembly operations, business travel, and employee commuting. Finelite is funding clean energy and efficiency projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“At Finelite, we’re committed to further reducing the environmental effects of our operations and funding carbon reducing projects to offset our CO2 emissions is a logical next step in our path toward sustainability,” said Terry Clark, Finelite’s CEO. “We will continue to examine our operations and make changes that reduce waste, use fewer raw materials, and provide a longer useable life for our energy-saving products.”
By purchasing carbon offsets through TerraPass, Finelite is helping to fund clean energy, farm power (animal wastes) and landfill gas capture projects. Finelite’s calculated carbon footprint of 554 metric tons includes emissions associated with office and assembly operations, business travel, and employee commuting. This amount is roughly equivalent to taking 120 cars off the road.
A carbon offset is a certificate representing the reduction of one metric ton (2,205 lbs) of carbon dioxide emissions, the principal contributor to global warming. As clean energy proponents develop projects such as wind farms that emit fewer carbon emissions than coal-fired power plants, they create carbon offsets. These offsets can be sold to help finance the project while independent auditors ensure that emissions are actually reduced.
Finelite’s commitment to environmental sustainability extends from its own business practices to the development of energy-efficient lighting systems for offices and educational facilities, including the Integrated Classroom Lighting System (ICLS) and the new LED-based Personal Lighting System (PLS) for office task illumination. Environmental initiatives include everything from lean manufacturing and landfill diversion programs that helped reduce waste by 50 percent to low-waste product packaging and efficient supplier procurement programs. Finelite even lights its offices with its own products resulting in a lighting power density of only 0.61 watts per sq. ft. – beating California’s aggressive Title 24 energy standard by 40%.
For more information about carbon offsets and the TerraPass program, visit www.terrapass.com.
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