Ford Joins Earth Hour Support Efforts

Ford’s World Headquarters in Michigan went dark for one hour yesterday evening in support of Earth Hour, a global initiative to raise awareness of energy conservation and climate change. All interior, parking and signage lights have been turned off during this time, except required emergency lighting.

The American manufacturer has therefore joined millions of people, organizations, corporations ad governments around the world in this initiative.

"More than ever, we at Ford Motor Company are committed to the responsible use of resources," said John Viera, director, Sustainability & Environmental Policy. "Participating in Earth Hour is a simple yet significant symbol of Ford's recognition of the importance of environmental sustainability. By working together and continuing to focus on responsible resource use, we can help protect our future."

Ford also earned the US Environmental Protection Agency's 2010 ENERGY STAR Award thanks to its actions to reduce the amount of energy used in all of its facilities. The company is also urging its employees and customers to join the effort by reducing their personal energy use and cutting their CO2 footprints.

Moreover, Ford currently has a program called PC Power Management, which means the power settings on Windows laptops and desktop computers are centrally controlled to reduce energy waste and optimize software updates.

 According to the carmaker, this will help it save $1.2 million annually. By reducing PC power consumption, Ford also expects to reduce its carbon footprint by an estimated 16,000 to 25,000 metric tons annually.