New Chrysler Engine Plant Wins Top Environmental Certification

New Chrysler Engine Plant Wins Top Environmental Certification

After months of relatively little info from the company, we've had news today of the Fiat 500 EV and Ram plug-in hybrid programs for the U.S. and now this - Chrysler's new Trenton South Engine Plant (in Trenton, Mich., not N.J.) has become the only engine manufacturing operation to be awarded a LEED Gold certification for green buildings.

The plant also is one on only four auto manufacturing facilities of any kind to win the award, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification means that the building was built with and operates under the highest environmental standards possible.

LEED certification looks at site planning, water management, energy use and management, material use and indoor environmental quality. The program is administered by the United States Green Building Council.

According to Chrysler, the Trenton South plant, built on a former parking lot and a sibling to the adjacent and much older Trenton North engine factory, produces 12,000 metric tons fewer annual CO2 emissions than the North plant - the equivalent of the CO2 output of 1,000 homes; uses less water -1.5 million gallons a year; and 39 percent less energy (a $1.25 million annual savings).

Additionally, the company said, 44 percent of the material used to build the facility included recycled content; more than 90 percent of the construction waste - or 6,750 tons  of junk - was recycled and kept out of landfills;  the number of single-vehicle parking spaces in the plant parking lot has been reduced and van- and carpool spaces increased; landscaping was designed to help cool the building naturally; and an ongoing zero landfill policy means that an estimated 670 tons of plant waste will be recycled and kept out of landfills each year.

Now, about those 15 mpg Ram pickups and Jeep Commander SUVs...

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.