SAS – named the best US company to work
for in 2010 – is a leader in environmental
sustainability, too. From the company’s
US headquarters in Cary, North Carolina, to
offices around the world, SAS is committed
to making a difference.
Our solar farm, located on the Cary campus,
provides nearly 1.7 million kilowatt hours
of clean, renewable power to the public energy
grid each year – enough to power 150 average-size
homes.
The power from our solar farm offsets CO2
emissions from traditional sources by more
than 1,600 tons annually — the equivalent
of burning 167,000 gallons of gasoline.
No trees were cut down to build the solar
farm. We’ve eliminated the need for concrete
support by driving steel posts into compacted
soil. And, we’re using sheep to naturally
maintain the grass under the solar panels.
Solar thermal systems provide hot water for
campus laundry services, showers at our gym,
and one of our on-site cafeterias.
We’re reducing energy demand by using innovative
technologies such as regenerative drive elevators.
These systems use highly-efficient, variable
frequency motors. The power generated during
their descent is routed back into the building
to help power lighting, computers and other
electrical equipment.
Energy demand has been reduced by the use
of LEDs, compact fluorescent lighting, and
automated energy management systems.
Low-flow plumbing technology has saved more
than 5 million gallons of water annually.
Native, drought-resistant plants and reduced
irrigation schedules are helping us save an
additional fourteen million gallons every
year.
Vegetable scraps from our three on-site cafeterias
and our on-campus preschool are turned into
compost by SAS landscapers, who use it in
flower beds throughout the campus.
Many SAS employees serve as EcoAdvocates in
buildings across the campus. These volunteers
collect recyclable materials, and educate
their colleagues on new conservation opportunities.
SAS employees are committed to recycling
– not just plastic bottles, glass and aluminum
cans, but also printer toner cartridges and
batteries from laptops, electronics, and other
gadgets.
A new Executive Briefing Center is being constructed
on the Cary campus. SAS is maintaining our
environmental commitment by following guidelines
set by the US Green Building Council and the
LEED Green Building Rating System.
The Executive Briefing Center is designed
to conserve resources. It will use significantly
less water and energy than typically constructed
buildings. From concrete to steel to insulation,
nearly a third of the building’s construction
materials contain recycled content. And, we’re
working with local suppliers to obtain source
materials from within a 500-mile radius.
A second building currently under construction,
the Cloud Computing Facility, is also being
built with the goal of LEED certification.
SAS offices around the world are also environmentally
friendly. In Toronto, our Canadian Headquarters
was the company’s first building to achieve
LEED certification.
In the UK, we’ve received Bronze Accreditation
from the ITM ICARUS Project by reducing CO2
emissions related to staff travel.
In Korea, we’ve eliminated more than 5,000
paper cups a month, simply by providing each
employee with a reusable ceramic mug.
And in Australia, we’ve reduced electricity
consumption by 18 percent at the Sydney headquarters,
equivalent to removing 50 typical mid-size
cars from the road.
Our internal efforts make SAS a very green
company, but we don’t stop there. With our
SAS solutions for Sustainability Management,
companies can measure, manage and report on
environmental, social and economic indicators,
helping them run more efficiently.
At SAS, we’re committed to growing and maintaining
a successful business, while safeguarding
our planet's precious natural resources. That’s
what being green is all about.