Figure: Change in energy (electricity, water, gas) consumption at GE Consumer
Products Lighting Europe

The diagram shows the change in water, electricity and gas consumption, (data aggregated for all European sites) by the number of products produced in the same interval.

The largest results of GE Consumer Products Lighting Europe´s continuous improvement policy and devotion to EHS issues can be seen in the 40-50% reduction in water consumption. GE is very conscious of reducing the need for fresh water by recycling cooling water into the production cycle.

Significant reductions were achieved in the previous years, including reductions in gas consumption. In addition to modernizing heating systems, the reduction has been achieved via the secondary utilization of waste heat.

Although in 2001 we could note a slight increase in gas consumption across the sites this was due to installations of exhausters in order to improve the air quality in the workplace. The reduction of gas consumption has also resulted from the reconstruction of furnaces, which has caused 18-20% decrease in gas usage over the previous years.

In 2000 we experienced a 10% reduction in electricity consumption, but after the installation of exhausters, air conditioners and air exchange systems, to ensure high occupational health standards, this value increased again.