Ethisphere Institute recognizes Rockwell Automation as one of the world’s most ethical companies

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For the third consecutive year, the Ethisphere Institute hasrecognized Rockwell Automation as one of the "world’s most ethical companies."

Through in-depth research and a multi-step analysis, Ethisphere reviewed thousands of nominations from companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries in order to determine the winners.

The methodology for the Ethisphere rankings includes evaluating investments in innovation and sustainable business practices;looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studyingnominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers, and customers.

Ethisphere Institute is an international think tank dedicated to the creation, advancement, and sharing of best practices inbusiness ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption, andsustainability.

New corporate responsibilityreport
Rockwell Automation’s 2009 report describes the company’s

efforts to be a "smart, safe, and sustainable manufacturer" and offers examples

about how it’s helping customers do the same.

Rockwell Automation’s 2009 energy use

"In our recovering economy, issues such as governance,

ethics, safety, environment, employee and community relations are a priority

for us and we believe are fundamental to thriving as a sustainable company,"

said Keith Nosbusch, Rockwell Automation president and CEO. "If manufacturers

are going to prosper in the post-recession global economy, they need to adopt

smart, safe, and sustainable manufacturing technologies and practices."

Some of the sustainable achievements noted in Rockwell

Automation’s corporate responsibility report include:

Rockwell Automationwas named a U.S.EPA Energy Star Service & Product Provider (SPP) in 2009.
The EPA assigns this designation to those companies that provide

energy efficiency services and products to commercial buildings and industrial

manufacturing facilities with the expectation that Energy Star SPPs will assist

industrial manufacturing customers in adopting a continuous improvement strategy

for corporate-wide energy management.

Rockwell Automation’s 2009 CO2 emissions

The company received the designation after it helped General

Mills save $2.6 million annually through a standardized energy management

system for air handling units. The new system utilizes outdoor air versus air

conditioning in autumn, winter, and spring to cool a plant, and uses excess

heat fromthe plant’s equipment to heat buildings as needed.

Using less electricityand creating less waste.
In 2010 Rockwell will begin to explore new, more accurate

means of corporate energy and waste generation measurement, such as square

footage, per employee, or unit of production, to which the company can

normalize its environmental metrics to achieve a more accurate assessment of its

progress eachyear.

According to Rockwell Automation, the majority of its energy

consumption and carbon footprint is from electricity used to light, heat and

cool its buildings, and for production. In 2009, the company reduced its

electricity usage in 55 manufacturing and core locations by 15% in absolute

terms and increased usage by 12% when normalized to sales.

Rockwell Automation’s 2009 solid waste generation

Using its own RSEnergyMetrix application, the company

analyzed data from more than 60 power monitors installed throughout its Milwaukee headquarters

campus. This analysis pinpointed opportunities where the company could change

behaviors, processes, and equipment that would result in immediate energy

reductions and cost savings. For example, Rockwell Automation reprogrammed its

lighting controls on weekends and holidays, which reduced its base load. The

company also replaced lighting in its parking garage and reduced electricity

use there by 60%. The start up of its high current lab generatorwas also

rescheduled to occur before 10 a.m., which helped reduce peak facility demand

by 100 kilowatts. Lightly loaded substations were also replaced and combined. Energy

usage at the company’s Milwaukee

headquarters was reduced by 4 million kilowatt hours, resulting in more than

$230,000 in annual savings.

A greener AutomationFair.
The company’s annual Automation Fair went "green" in 2009 on

several fronts: Using EPA Smartway-certified freight transportation companies

that used clean fuel-efficient trucks;  attendees

received biodegradable literature bags with marketing materials produced by FSC-certified

printers who used recycled papers and soy-based inks; All lights and electronic

devices were kept at reduced energy levels and used low energy lighting in many

product displays; water was available from coolers instead of water bottles and

biodegradable plates and cutlery were used; and all excess food was donated to

local charities and food banks.  

Access other Control Engineering content related to corporatesustainability:

• Frito-Laybakes environmental awareness into production processes
• Caterpillarnamed to Dow Jones sustainability index
• SamsungElectronics announces eco-management initiative

-Edited by DavidGreenfield , editorial director
Control Engineering Sustainable Engineering News Desk

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