As a sign of GM’s commitment to aid energy conservation strategies, GM has reported that is has reduced its energy use by 25 percent and also has added solar and landfill gas as working energy sources for its North American facilities over the past five years.

Constant strategies in place have shown this significant reduction of energy use, with solar power playing a surprisingly key role. The facility saves 10 percent of its electricity costs alone by adapting solar panels to power a massive 50 percent of its operations. Energy not consumed by the facility will then we fed directly back into the Californian power grid. A small new hydro-electric power installation is also being constructed for GM facilities in Mexico that are set to become operational in 2007.

It’s just a matter of time before these energy conservation strategies are filtered down under, with recent times displaying Holden’s ever growing involvement for greener alternatives. Easily adapted techniques already employed by US facilities include the installation of common energy management and control systems for lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Substantial steps can also be taken to improve compressed air systems used in paint shop operations and construction, another area that can be see adaptations from US technology. With energy saving figures such as these ones, it leaves little doubt that we will soon be seeing Holden quickly jumping on the solar bandwagon.