DEP RECOGNIZES SAFT JACKSONVILLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE
Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent this bulletin at 09/16/2016 10:34 AM EDT
Pictured from left to right, Lori N. Boyer, Jacksonville City Council president; Greg Strong, DEP Northeast District director; Shane Weedle, Saft Jacksonville general manager; Tim Sparks, Saft Jacksonville environmental health & safety manager; Alan Parsley, Saft Jacksonville director of operations; Dr. Charles Moreland, Mayor’s Office representative JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Northeast District awarded Saft Jacksonville with its 2016 Environmental Excellence Award at the 24th annual city of Jacksonville's Mayor's Environmental Luncheon. "DEP’s Northeast District is proud to recognize Saft America’s Jacksonville team for their outstanding commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Northeast District Director Greg Strong. “By promoting and investing in many environmentally responsible practices, Saft is helping to preserve and protect our natural resources and making a positive impact in our community.” Saft is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of advanced technology batteries. The Jacksonville plant represents a multi-million dollar investment in the production of high tech, lithium-ion energy systems, which support renewable energy such as solar panel farms and wind turbines. “From the beginning of our startup in Jacksonville, Saft has remained committed to being an environmental leader," said Tim Sparks, environmental health and safety manager for Saft Jacksonville. "A good portion of our $200 million investment in the Jacksonville plant went to systems and equipment designed to protect the environment. Beyond that, Saft utilizes continuous improvement methodologies to ensure we remain an environmental leader.” Among its notable accomplishments, Saft 's dedication to keeping the environment free of wastes and pollutants and was recently recognized by DEP and JEA for their exceptional 86.9 percent recycling rate. This was achieved through continuous improvement methods to identify ways to not only recycle scrap materials, but to also reduce the amount of waste generated. In addition to their recycling efforts, the Saft Jacksonville building was designed and constructed to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver Certification. Their building houses the largest rooftop solar energy system in Florida, and by using this alternative energy resource, they conserve an equivalent of 2.5 million gallons of gasoline annually. Saft Jacksonville's reclaimed water systems recycle water for landscape irrigation as well as collect and treat rain water to be used in the building. In an effort to partner with local communities and businesses to protect natural resources and promote economic growth, the Northeast District continues to recognize corporate and non-profit partners and stakeholders who are outstanding environmental stewards. The Mayor's Environmental Luncheon provides local environmental organizations the opportunity to recognize individuals and groups that have made an impact on the local environment.
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About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Northeast District The Northeast District, headquartered in Jacksonville, provides environmental permitting assistance, emergency response and environmental education outreach in 19 counties from the Atlantic coastal plain to the Gulf of Mexico. The natural and ecological value of Northeast Florida is reflected in its vast water resources – the district has more rivers than any other, including the St. Johns, Nassau, Tolomato and historic Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers. The district is committed to DEP’s vision of strong community partnerships, safeguarding natural resources and enhancing ecosystems. For more information, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/northeast/. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/160d427 |
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