Mars Chocolate unveils solar garden
Mars' renovated headquarters site features 18-acre solar garden, which provides 20% of plant's peak energy consumption.
David Greenfield -- Control Engineering, 11/22/2009
Mars Chocolate North America recently unveiled two major projects: the state's (New Jersey) largest solar garden installed by a food manufacturer and the renovated Mars Chocolate North America headquarters.
 18 acre solar garden, adjacent to Mars Chocolate North America's headquarters, provides 20% of the plant's peak energy consumption. |
The solar garden is comprised of more than 28,000 ground-mounted solar panels on 18 acres adjacent to Mars Chocolate North America's headquarters, where more than 1,200 associates work and M&M'S brand chocolate candies are manufactured. The solar garden provides approximately 20% of the plant's peak energy consumption, which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1,000 metric tons, equivalent to removing 190 vehicles from the road each year. A long-term partnership between Mars Chocolate North America and PSEG Solar Source has been established to ensure the solar garden's success.
With the environmentally friendly renovations completed to its headquarters, the company has said it will apply for LEED Gold Certification. A few of the enhancements made include: the installation of water-conserving fixtures that reduce water usage by more than 30 percent; a reduction in energy use by 15% through the use of an upgraded building energy management system, variable frequency drives and energy-efficient lighting and controls; an upgraded roof utilizing a highly reflective roofing material that offsets the direct heat gain to the building; and the utilization of more than 20% recycled content in materials, from carpet to ceiling tiles.
Access other Control Engineering content related to industrial solar use:
- Research indicates U.S. solar manufacturing to rise nearly 50% annually
- Surge protection sets for solar installations
- Tax credit aimed at boosting "green" manufacturing in the U.S.
- Edited by David Greenfield, editorial director
Control Engineering Sustainable Engineering News Desk
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