Through ecomagination, GE made a strong commitment
to reducing its energy footprint.
With the execution of ecomagination Treasure Hunts, a process to identify energy savings opportunities to reduce waste, save money, minimize emissions and conserve natural resources, GE has had significant success in reducing companywide energy intensity by 37%. Over 200 internal treasure hunts have been performed across all GE businesses with $150 million in savings opportunities identified.
An ecomagination Treasure Hunt is a discovery process that utilizes cross-functional teams composed of site employees and external experts to investigate a facility’s energy and natural resources consumption from shut-down mode operations to normal operating mode that identifies, quantifies and recommends projects (“kaizens”) to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.
Case Studies
On the hunt for sunken treasure at GE
With the help of a Toyota expert from their “Energy Saving Treasure Hunt” team, a team at GE Global Research went on what is called a “Kaizen blitz” to help determine where to take actions to reach GE’s ecomagination goal of reducing water use by 20% by 2012 compared to 2006 usage levels.
Go fly a kite! GE teams with shipper to cut fuel costs
Beluga Shipping — a GE preferred shipper — is using “kite sails” to reduce fuel costs and help the environment. Who knew that in the 21st century, GE’s advanced engines would literally be sailing to their ports of call?
Hunting for energy treasures in Cincinnati
Teaming with University of Cincinnati architectural and engineering students and the facilities department at Cincinnati Public Schools we identified more than $25,000 worth of cost savings that accounted for more than 15% of one elementary school’s energy spend, in our first energy audit.