profile of innovation

Key Ideas

One of Ford Motor Company’s latest innovations is the Rouge Truck Plant, a facility that exemplifies ecological awareness and a commitment to wise use of natural resources. Ford has a history of environmental activism, and the construction of this plant is a great example of a sustainability initiative that works.

Innovation

Ford Motor Company’s new Rouge Truck Plant in Michigan has been designed and constructed to be environmentally friendly. One of the most innovative aspects of the building is the “living roof,” which consists of more than ten acres of green plants. The plants provide insulation, and capture and clean storm water. An extension to the roof’s water filtration system is housed beneath the parking lot, where a porous drainage bed collects and cleans rainwater and snowmelt before releasing it into the watershed. In addition, Ford is piloting a process by which the facility’s paint fumes are recaptured and transformed into energy used to power the plant. Inside the plant, windows and skylights make the best use of natural light, and an energy-efficient air tempering system delivers moderate temperatures and fresh air.

Impact

Ford is setting an example for other manufacturing firms in terms of environmental awareness and sustainability. The water system combats pollution, the air tempering system relies on less energy than traditional systems, and the “Fumes to Fuel” system provides an alternative method of creating energy. The company’s reputation has been enhanced through these efforts, and people from all over the world have visited the Rouge Center to learn more about that facility and Ford’s other environmental efforts. The facility has also produced positive financial results. Over its lifetime, the cost of the living roof is less than a traditional tar roof, and the innovative water filtration system cost significantly less to construct than a traditional storm water treatment facility.

Inspiration

The company has successfully honored its commitment to build a state-of-the-art plant that creates a higher quality of life for its employees and minimizes negative impact on the environment. In his leadership position, Bill Ford actively promotes efforts to correct damage that has been done to the environment and to prevent further problems from occuring. In addition to innovations incorporated in the construction of the Rouge Center, Ford Motor Company routinely recycles and reuses materials such as paint solvent and tires, using these materials to create value rather than harming the environment. The company continues to explore ways to preserve and enhance the environment, honoring the Ford family’s vision and legacy.