Mars Chocolate unveils solar garden

Mars' renovated headquarters site features 18-acre solar garden, which provides 20% of plant's peak energy consumption.

By David Greenfield November 22, 2009

Mars Chocolate North America recently unveiled two major projects: thestate’s (New Jersey)largest solar garden installed by a food manufacturer and the renovated MarsChocolate 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 solarpanels 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 aremanufactured. The solar garden provides approximately 20% of the plant’s peakenergy consumption, which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than1,000 metric tons, equivalent to removing 190 vehicles from the road each year.A long-term partnership between Mars Chocolate North America and PSEG SolarSource 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 theenhancements made include: the installation of water-conserving fixtures thatreduce water usage by more than 30 percent; a reduction in energy use by 15%through the use of an upgraded building energy management system, variablefrequency drives and energy-efficient lighting and controls; an upgraded roofutilizing a highly reflective roofing material that offsets the direct heatgain to the building; and the utilization of more than 20% recycled content inmaterials, from carpet to ceiling tiles.

Access other Control Engineering contentrelated to industrial solar use:

  • Researchindicates U.S. solar manufacturingto rise nearly 50% annually
  • Surgeprotection sets for solar installations
  • Taxcredit aimed at boosting "green" manufacturing in the U.S.

 

– Edited by David Greenfield , editorial director
Control Engineering Sustainable Engineering News Desk