Team formed at GE's Global Research Center to assess the environmental impact of products throughout their entire lifespan
NISKAYUNA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Global Research, the technology development arm for the General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), announced the establishment of an Ecoassessment Center of Excellence to discover new frontiers in assessing and managing a product's environmental footprint throughout the entire lifecycle of the product.
Lifecycle assessment evaluates products for their environmental impact from the raw materials used in early stage research to the end of a product's useful life, and every step in between. GE has engaged a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team of scientists and engineers to systematically develop better, more energy efficient ways to design and manage products.
"As part of GE's Ecomagination initiative, we have always said 'green is green.' With our, Ecoassessment Center of Excellence, it's really more like 'green is green is green," said Bill Flanagan, who leads GE's Ecoassessment Center of Excellence. "GE can make money by providing clean technology solutions, while also reducing the environmental footprint of developing those solutions. It's a win-win-win equation."
Flanagan added, "Environmental impact is more than just the end-product. It's about measuring a product's environmental footprint throughout its entire lifecycle. Our team at GE Global Research is committed to applying and developing the measurement tools and processes needed to fully assess a product's environmental impact. In turn, we hope to minimize this impact in a way that helps the environment and leads to cost savings for GE and our customers."
Ecomagination represents GE's commitment to develop and drive clean technology and product solutions that help solve some of the world's toughest environmental challenges. As part of its commitment, GE is doubling its level of investment in clean R+D from $700 million in 2005 to more than $1.5 billion by 2010. Since the initiative was launched in 2005, GE has more than quadrupled the number of environmental products from 17 to more than 80.
GE researchers have played a critical role in the technology developments, which have been responsible for the product successes and growth of ecomagination. In addition to driving new green technology developments, we also will have a dedicated team working to make GE technology product development processes even greener.
Flanagan and his team already have several projects and activities underway, which you can view on GE's technology blog, From Edison's Desk, at www.grcblog.com. Highlights include:
In the months ahead, researchers at GE Global Research will work with key stakeholders to develop a systematic approach for assessing the overall environmental impact of a product from the raw materials, energy and water used in the early stages of research to the disposal of a product at the end of its lifecycle.
About GE Global Research
GE Global Research is one of the world's most diversified industrial research labs, providing innovative technology for all of GE's businesses. Global Research has been the cornerstone of GE technology for more than 100 years, developing breakthrough innovations in areas such as medical imaging, energy generation technology, jet engines and lighting. GE Global Research is headquartered in Niskayuna, New York and has facilities in Bangalore, India, Shanghai, China and Munich, Germany. Visit GE Global Research at www.ge.com/research.
Todd Alhart
GE
[email protected]
1-518-387-7914