VW Energy-Saving Program Shows Positive Results

Back in 2005, Volkswagen launched an energy-saving program based on reorganizing its office equipment infrastructure, that eventually reached full completion last year. Earlier this week, at the CeBIT digital industry tradeshow, the company announced that it has managed to save approximately 9.26 million kilowatt hours of energy per year through the implementation of the program.

This can be translated into a 86 percent reduction in energy consumption, as compared to 2005’s figures. Just to get an idea of what the quantity means, imagine that it would be enough to cover the annual energy needed by around 1,400 households.

The program included the replacement of 52,000 fax machines, printers, photocopiers and scanners with 17,500 multifunction devices throughout the Group and the integration of the units into a centralized network. Volkswagen’s IT division cut the total number of devices by 66 percent - 35,000 single machines were disposed off. The current devices are also standardized: the Group now uses seven types of devices, as compared to 832 models in the past. An important part of the project is the central management one: the new devices feature a software that automatically reports issues to a dedicated service center, optimizing the maintenance process.

The company conducted a survey among its employees to see how the new system is received. The study showed that 72 percent of the staff considered that the copy-print related activities are now easier to perform.

"Volkswagen orients its information and communication technology on criteria for sustainability. The multifunction device project, which is now complete, was a major and successful step. And there is more to come.” said Klaus Hardy Mühleck, the head of VW Group’s IT division.