Managing energy and mitigating climate change
Novartis new solar generating system in Vacaville California.
Novartis is committed to using resources efficiently and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which affect the global climate. We recently established new targets on total GHG emissions for 2015 and 2020, which represent an absolute reduction of 15% by 2015 and of 20% by 2020, based on 2008 levels.
Novartis has a longstanding, comprehensive energy and climate program with a dual objective:
- Improve energy efficiency for all industrial and commercial operations and use renewable energy sources where available and feasible
- Develop carbon-offset projects
In an effort to further increase energy efficiency, ultimately reducing GHG emissions, Novartis has a comprehensive energy management program at all levels of the organization.
Energy managers use a systematic process to ensure energy considerations are given appropriate attention in all investment projects. Of existing activities, to date, all our major sites have been audited to assess energy systems and identify potential for improvement in saving energy and using renewable energy.
Energy management tools and dedicated training programs are applied systematically, together with continuous monitoring of targets and performance. Novartis has a long-term view on capital investments associated with energy conservation, allowing payback periods up to the lifetime of the asset for projects that save energy.
New projects are a major focus — it is more effective to build in energy efficiency from the beginning than redesign an existing system. Many of these projects demonstrate very short payback periods: for two-thirds of projects payback is less than two years, and for more than half, it is one year or less. The annual energy savings from completed projects represent more than 4% of the company’s total energy consumption.1
In 2011, Novartis exceeded the annual reduction target of 2% of CO2 emissions from vehicles owned or leased by Group companies, reducing emissions by 7.5%. Over the last six years, emissions have been reduced by 22%.
1Based on 2008 energy consumption figures, a 10% target on energy savings from projects was required for all divisions and operations. By 2011, after three years, saving amount to 9,7%.
Related links:
Read more about how we manage our GHG emissions (1.3 MB, page 23)
Learn about our ODS emissions performance and target (1.3 MB, page 29)
Learn about our VOC emissions performance and target (1.3 MB, page 31)
Learn about our inorganic air pollutants emissions performance and target (1.3 MB, page 34)
Learn about our emissions into water performance and target (1.3 MB, page 37)
