Why drawing 35% of power from solar panels was just the beginning for our Noida site
The inspiration – make sustainability a shared goal for every team member, and do whatever it takes to reduce emissions as much as possible.
When a weak roof threatened to halt an ambitious solar panel system expansion at our site in Noida, India, the team didn’t cancel the project. Instead, they found smart, safe, and sustainable ways to overcome the challenge.
The Noida site already had a solar system in place, but they wanted to increase the site’s reliance on green, renewable energy.
However, a number of consultants told the Noida team that this wouldn’t be possible. It seemed that the roof of the building was not structurally sound enough to support the weight of a larger solar system.
The team at Noida had two options: abandon the expansion project, or find a way to strengthen the roof.
Unwilling to be beaten by this challenge, they chose to start a project to improve the structural integrity of the rooftop and make way for new solar panels.
The commitment paid off: the expanded solar system now has a 250 kW capacity. This means that Noida can now draw an impressive 35% of its total energy consumption from a renewable source.
And this is only the beginning; now that the roof is strengthened, Noida plans to add another 200 kW of capacity to the solar system in 2024. This next phase will allow Noida to draw 55% of its energy from solar power – a significant win on the path to net-zero emissions.
From saving water to cutting down on packaging waste, sustainability shapes every day at Noida.
This solar panel project is just one of several initiatives currently underway at the Noida site. Team members at Noida are:
Reducing water consumption in the site’s gardens by installing strategically placed sprinklers instead of using hoses. This simple change has reduced the site’s water use by 17.2%.
Switching to a water-free method of solar panel cleaning. Previously, the site’s maintenance team used water to clear the solar panels of dirt and debris and keep them running efficiently. Instead of wasting this water, Noida switched to using a new form of technology which meant the panels could be cleaned with dry wipes.
Cutting paper waste by reusing packaging. One employee pointed out that the packaging in which components arrived on site for assembly often went to waste. Now, this cardboard and paper is shredded and recycled into packaging for our products. In one move, this initiative reduced the amount of packaging thrown away and the amount of new materials required to make our product packaging.
All of these activities are underpinned by Noida’s “flagship” sustainability event: World Environment Day.
Every year, the Noida team come together and make a pledge that shapes their working lives for the next year: that every team member will do whatever is in their personal capacity to protect the environment.
The team then spend the day planting trees and brainstorming potential ways to reduce the Noida site’s impact on the environment. Many of these ideas – like the idea to recycle paper packaging waste into product packaging – are quickly put into action.
Making sustainability a way of life
The pledge they make on World Environment Day has now become a way of life. A constant call to action, inspiring employees to keep seeking new ways to reduce the site’s environmental impact.
Because our vision – to deliver “breakthrough engineering for a better world” – doesn’t just mean developing better products.
It also means pushing for a “better world” in every sense. With every employee going above and beyond to improve the sustainability and carbon footprint of their site.
For more information about how Norgren is reducing its carbon footprint – and unlocking new benefits for its customers and people in the process – click here.