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Corporate Social Responsibility
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12.05.2007 - 05:00pm ET
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Novartis Awards Program Drives Energy Savings and Environmental Progress
(CSRwire) The 2007 Novartis Energy Excellence Awards honor sites in Italy,
the UK and US
Awards program, in its fourth year, recognizes contributions by
Novartis associates to conserving energy and reducing emissions for the
global healthcare company
Forty-six projects in the 2007 competition offer potential savings
totaling more than USD 40 million
BASEL - December 5, 2007 – Novartis has honored associates at sites in
Italy, the United Kingdom and United States for comprehensive efforts to
save energy and reduce environmental emissions. The three sites were
winners of the 2007 Novartis Energy Excellence Awards, a global
motivational program now in its fourth year. In a record 46 entries this
year, Novartis associates have shown that proactive initiatives can make
an impact on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in all of the
company’s divisions and geographic regions.
Throughout Novartis sites, including in Switzerland, initiatives are under
way to improve energy efficiency. The recently constructed (and future)
Campus buildings at headquarters in Basel need only 1/3 of the energy of
average Swiss office buildings. Furthermore, their supply of energy is
completely carbon-free, both for electricity and heating.
The Energy Excellence Awards recognize associates who improve the
company's energy efficiency and take steps to implement renewable or
alternative energy technologies. These solutions are key in helping
Novartis meet ambitious energy and climate targets in line with the Kyoto
Protocol (that is, reducing emissions for the period 2008-2012 by at least
5 percent below the 1990 level).
"The judges honored three site energy programs that combine many actions
covering different aspects of energy use. Comprehensive approaches of this
sort can make a difference worldwide in the energy and climate performance
of Novartis," said Keith Saveal, Head of Corporate Health, Safety and
Environment and Business Continuity.
A judging panel of five experts from academic, nongovernmental and
intergovernmental organizations, as well as four Novartis specialists,
evaluated the 46 projects from around the world. Key criteria included
supporting business growth objectives while reducing CO2 emissions,
minimizing energy costs and utilizing renewable energy sources.
The three site programs selected for 2007 awards:
The Novartis vaccines production site in Rosia, Italy, which is
expanding significantly between 2007 and 2010, is committed to major
efforts to reduce resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The
Rosia energy saving program is still in an early stage but is shaping the
site's energy efficiency for the future. Cornerstones of the program are
photovoltaic and thermal solar panels on the roofs of existing buildings
or as integrated elements of new buildings, as well as a gas turbine-based
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit. The integrated approach also includes
wastewater recovery and transport and employee mobility on the premises,
as well as to and from a sister facility in Siena, Italy.
The Novartis Pharma Division chemical production site in Grimsby, UK,
has applied an established management tool, with multiple measures
including behavioral aspects, to help optimize energy efficiency and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This systematic approach integrates
innovation, quality and productivity, using technical parameters for
efficiency and checking for results. The Grimsby team has been very
successful in achieving energy savings and emission reductions - providing
an example of comprehensive energy saving programs with a high potential
for replication in other sites.
The Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) headquarters
in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has achieved a cultural change for energy
conservation on its research campus. Over the past two years, the project
team has made increased energy efficiency and the avoidance of greenhouse
gas emissions primary objectives for the campus. The program includes
simple steps such as changes in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
(HAVC) settings and lighting levels, as well as upgrades in building
control equipment and behavioral habits in laboratory practice. This
program is also well-suited for replication.
About Novartis
Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in offering medicines to protect
health, cure disease and improve well-being. Our goal is to discover,
develop and successfully market innovative products to treat patients,
ease suffering and enhance the quality of life. We are strengthening our
medicine-based portfolio, which is focused on strategic growth platforms
in innovation-driven pharmaceuticals, high-quality and low-cost generics,
human vaccines and leading self-medication OTC brands. Novartis is the
only company with leadership positions in these areas. In 2006, the
Group's businesses achieved net sales of USD 37.0 billion and net income
of USD 7.2 billion. Approximately USD 5.4 billion was invested in R&D.
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ
approximately 100,000 associates and operate in over 140 countries around
the world. For more information, please visit www.novartis.com.
Novartis was selected as a sustainability leader in the 2007 Dow Jones
Sustainability Index (DJSI). In 2006, 33.6 million patients around the
world benefited from Novartis programs valued at USD 755 million. These
initiatives range from drug donation and research programs to combat
neglected diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and leprosy in developing
nations to patient assistance programs that help cancer patients receive
the most innovative and effective treatments available. For further
information, please consult www.novartis.com.
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