Ford partners with Georgia Tech on water sustainability

Thursday, October 21, 2010 | Source: Metromode
Ford is expanding its 7-year-old partnership with Georgia Tech to study and develop new ways to reduce water usage and make the most of the water it consumes.

"We're looking to do something different than just mandate efficiencies," says David Berdish, manager of social sustainability for Ford. "We're looking at different strategies for water-scarce regions."

Not that Ford hasn't done well with mandating such efficiencies. Between 2000 and 2008, the Dearborn-based automaker reduced its global water use by 56 percent (9.5 billion gallons) as part of its goal to minimize the environmental impact of its facilities. The difference with this new program is its focus on tailoring the policy for the region.

Researchers from both Ford and Georgia Tech will study different programs and benchmarks for water sustainability practices. Those programs will encompass climates where the resource is both plentiful and scare. The idea is to find the best practices to not only minimize water usage but also make sure the supply is not polluted.

The collaboration with Georgia Tech's Sustainable Design and Manufacturing program will help Ford determine the right manufacturing processes as the automaker's base expands into water-scarce areas like China, South Africa, and Mexico.

Source: David Berdish, manager of social sustainability for Ford
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
Enjoy this story? Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.

Related Tags

Automotive, Higher Education, Sustainability, Wayne County 

Recommended Content

Related Company

Sponsored By
Regions
Focus Areas
Copyright © Issue Media Group. All rights reserved.