Lights Out at Volvo CE for Earth Hour

Volvo joins hundreds of millions of people around the world who are willing to turn off their lights for one hour on March 31st. In support of Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE)’s commitment to the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Climate Savers Program, the company’s Shippensburg, Pa., facility will shut off all non-essential lighting from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. for Earth Hour on Saturday, March 31, 2012.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, by the local WWF. 2.2 million people and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off to bring awareness to climate change. The event spread to Canada and it soon became an annual global event. Earth Hour is held on the last Saturday in March. The Shippensburg shutdown is just part of a worldwide effort by the Volvo Group, one that will start at Volvo’s Asian facilities and track across all time zones through the day. All exterior and interior lighting, except for emergency and security, along with all non-essential equipment, will be turned off. 
 
Based on energy calculations, by committing to Earth Hour Volvo CE in Shippensburg will reduce the amount of carbon-dioxide emissions generated by about 1,000 lbs. That’s from just a 60 minute shutdown.

 
“This one hour is a small symbol of the commitment Volvo CE is making here in the US,” says Sean Glennon, vice president of Volvo CE Shippensburg Operations. “We are firmly committed to a longer term ambition of reducing total energy usage. Our efforts range from the production facility being LEED certified all the way to better fuel efficiency in our machines creating lower emissions on a jobsite.”
 
Each year the Earth Hour initiative heightens awareness of the collective influence we all have to reduce our impact on this planet. Last year 5,251 cities in 135 countries took part. Iconic landmarks around the world stood only in the light of the moon for one hour.
 
The Volvo Group is proud to expand its partnership with WWF in 2012. The cooperation is based on the Volvo Group’s commitment in 2009 to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by 30 million tons from construction equipment, buses and trucks manufactured through 2014. 30 million tons is the equivalent of the total carbon dioxide emitted by Sweden in a seven month period.
 
“I am proud of all the skilled and committed employees worldwide, who make it possible for the Volvo Group to be at the forefront of reducing carbon-dioxide emissions. By setting tough environmental targets, we contribute to sustainable development, while our products become more competitive and we reduce fuel costs for our customers,” says Volvo’s CEO Olof Persson.
 
Please join us in supporting the WWF Climate Savers Program by turning off all lights and non-essential appliances in your homes Saturday, March 31st, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.