- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=General Motors June Corporate Responsibility Newsletter https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/28788?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/28788?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/28788?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=General Motors June Corporate Responsibility Newsletter&body=ESG News from General Motors https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/28788?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Responsible Business & Employee Engagement](/CSR-News/responsible-business-employee-engagement) # General Motors June Corporate Responsibility Newsletter Jul 2, 2012 4:45 PM ET Campaign: [GM Sustainability Newsletter](/node/15048) ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_2x/s3/images/Landfill%20Free.jpg "A single plastic bag of household garbage represents more trash going to a landfill than 100 General Motors facilities combined. GM recently added its 100th landfill-free facility, a parts distribution center in Lansing, Mich.") ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_2x/s3/images/Malibu%20Crash%20Test.jpg "The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco is the first and only all-new 2013 midsize car to receive double honors for safety including a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a 2012 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both are the highest ratings possible. ") ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_2x/s3/images/1340719715984.jpg "The 2013 Cadillac ATS with the 2.5L engine and automatic transmission has a base curb weight of 3,315 lbs. (1059 kg), making it the lightest vehicle in the U.S. segment that includes the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4.") ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/s3/images/Landfill%20Free.jpg?h=23ed5d4a "A single plastic bag of household garbage represents more trash going to a landfill than 100 General Motors facilities combined. GM recently added its 100th landfill-free facility, a parts distribution center in Lansing, Mich.") ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/s3/images/Malibu%20Crash%20Test.jpg?h=35a55f71 "The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco is the first and only all-new 2013 midsize car to receive double honors for safety including a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a 2012 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both are the highest ratings possible. ") ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/s3/images/1340719715984.jpg?h=113099fe "The 2013 Cadillac ATS with the 2.5L engine and automatic transmission has a base curb weight of 3,315 lbs. (1059 kg), making it the lightest vehicle in the U.S. segment that includes the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4.") **WASTE REDUCTION** **GM Reaches Century Mark in Landfill-Free Facilities** A single plastic bag of household garbage represents more trash going to a landfill than 100 General Motors facilities combined. GM recently added its 100th [landfill-free](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0619_energystar) facility – a parts [distribution center](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/company_info/facilities/cca/lansing.html) in [Lansing, Mich](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0619_energystar.html). It is a milestone in the company’s ongoing [waste-reduction ](http://www.gm.com/vision/waste_reduction_.html)efforts. No other automaker has as many facilities contributing zero waste to landfill. [Full article…>](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0619_landfill_free.html) **GM Builds ‘Green Construction’ Program** A $200 million [stamping plant](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jan/0131_arlington) at its Arlington, Texas, plant is one of five General Motors construction sites to follow a process that helps [reduce waste](http://www.gm.com/vision/waste_reduction_.html) and increase [energy efficiency](http://www.gm.com/vision/energy_efficiency.html) throughout construction. So far, GM has recycled 150,000 tons of waste at the five sites. [Full article…> ](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0605_arlington.html) **ENERGY EFFICIENCY** **GM Powers Computers with Energy from Engine Testing** As visitors to the GM Powertrain Engineering Center in Torino walk the halls, they can often hear the whirring of engines being tested. But what they can’t hear is the excess energy being transferred back to the grid. Within a year, the center has harvested 300,000 kilowatt hours of energy from test benches – equipment that tests various measures of a running engine. This excess energy would normally be lost to the atmosphere. Now GM captures it to power all of the facility’s computers. [Full article…>](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0628_torino.html) **Second GM Facility Receives ENERGY STAR Certification** [General Motors’ Lansing Customer Care and Aftersales](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/company_info/facilities/cca/lansing.html) parts distribution center recently reached [landfill-free](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Mar/0312_greenleaders) status and earned [ENERGY STAR® certification](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0619_energystar.html) for superior energy efficiency from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The facility generates 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions and 35 percent less energy than similar buildings nationwide. It also is GM’s 100th facility to recycle, reuse or convert to energy all waste from daily operations. [Full article…>](http://generalmotors.posterous.com/second-gm-facility-receives-energy-star-certi) **Orion Assembly to Pull Energy from the Sun** General Motors will be partnering with DTE Energy to build a 350-kilowatt solar array on the grounds of its [Orion Assembly](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/company_info/facilities/assembly/orion.html) plant, the home of the [Chevrolet Sonic](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/vehicles/sonic/2013.html) and [Buick Verano](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/buick/vehicles/Verano/2013.html). When it’s up and running, the array will have enough capacity to annually power 45 homes in Michigan. [Full article…> ](http://generalmotors.posterous.com/general-motors-dte-energy-break-ground-on-sol) **GM’s Spring Hill Cuts the Lights, Saves Energy** General Motors is committed to [energy efficiency](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Mar/0301_epa), and its Spring Hill Manufacturing complex is its latest example. Spring Hill expects to save nearly $800,000 annually by upgrading to high-efficiency lighting in its general assembly and new engine plants. This upgrade, which will replace more than 4,000 fixtures with high-efficiency fluorescent lighting, is estimated to save 8.5 million kilowatt hours (kWhr) of electricity per year – equivalent to the energy needed to power 750 homes. [Full article…>](http://generalmotors.posterous.com/gms-spring-hill-cuts-the-lights-saves-energy) **GREENER VEHICLES** **Cadillac ATS’s Lighter Weight is Competitive Advantage** Like an athlete training for a major competition, [Cadillac](http://www.cadillac.com/) is completing its preparations for the all-new 2013 [ATS](http://media.cadillac.com/media/us/en/cadillac/vehicles/ats/2013.html), including finalizing key performance specifications. The ATS with the 2.5L engine and automatic transmission has an official base curb weight of 3,315 lbs. (1503.7 kg) – making it the lightest vehicle in the U.S. segment that includes the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. [Full article…>](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0626_ats.html) **Electric Ampera/Volt range extender wins green engine award** The range-extending 1.4-liter engine in the [Opel Ampera](http://media.gm.com/media/intl/en/opel/vehicles/ampera/2009.html) and [Chevrolet Volt](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/vehicles/volt/2012.html) won the “International Engine of the Year Award” for the best green engine in a field of 45 contenders, the first time in the 14-year history of the awards that a range-extending powertrain has won. [Full article…>](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0614_volt.html) **2013 Chevrolet Volt Boosts EV Range to 38 Miles** The all-electric vehicle range of the [2013 Chevrolet Volt](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/vehicles/volt/2013.html) will be 38 miles on a single charge, providing owners with a three-mile EV range increase from the 2012 model. The miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) will increase from 94 miles to 98 miles and the total range, including extended range operation, will be 380 miles. [Full article…> ](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0607_volt.html) **Chevrolet Malibu Eco Achieves Double Safety Honors** The 2013 [Chevrolet Malibu Eco](http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/vehicles/2013_malibu_eco/2013c.html) is the first and only all-new 2013 [midsize car](http://www.chevrolet.com/malibu-4-door-sedan/) to receive double honors for safety including a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a 2012 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both are the highest ratings possible. [Full article…>](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0605_malibusafety.html) **Chevrolet Only Brand with Two Models in 2012’s 10 Best Green Cars** Chevrolet was the only brand to land two of Kelley Blue Book’s picks for the [10 Best Green Cars of 2012](http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/10-best-green-cars-2012/), with the [2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco](http://www.chevrolet.com/vehicles/2013/malibu/overview.do) and [2012 Chevrolet Volt](http://www.chevrolet.com/volt-electric-car/?seo=goo_%7C_2008_Chevy_Retention_%7C_IMG_Chevy_Volt_%7C_Chevrolet_Volt_%7C_chevrolet_volt&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Retention-Chevy-IMG_Chevy_Volt&utm_content=Search&utm_term=chevrolet_volt) earning platitudes for their efficiency, as well as groundbreaking green technology. [Full article…>](http://generalmotors.posterous.com/chevrolet-only-brand-with-two-models-in-2012s) **College Students Compete in EcoCAR2 to Improve Vehicle Efficiency** When General Motors looks to the future of automotive engineering, they literally look to the group that embodies what the next generation of innovation will look like: student engineers. As such, it sponsors [EcoCAR2: Plugging In to the Future](http://www.ecocar2.org/), [a three-year competition](http://www.greengarageblog.org/) that provides students from 15 universities real-world, hands-on experience and tasks them to improve the energy efficiency of an already efficient vehicle, the [2013 Chevrolet Malibu](http://www.chevrolet.com/malibu-eco-fuel-efficient-sedan/). [Full article…>](http://generalmotors.posterous.com/college-students-compete-in-ecocar2-to-improv) **SAFETY** **2014 Impala Focuses on Crash Avoidance From All Angles** The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Impala is the latest addition to Chevrolet’s passenger car lineup and provides first-ever safety technologies for the global brand. The Impala leads the full-size segment with 10 standard air bags and boasts numerous active safety systems. While passive safety systems, such as air bags and seat belts, protect occupants in the event of a crash, active safety systems are designed to prevent a crash in the first place through the use of sounds, visual warnings and automated actions. [Full Article…>](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0629_impala.html) **Active Safety a Common Element in Expanding Buick Brand** In addition to the redesigned [Enclave](http://media.buick.com/media/us/en/buick/vehicles/enclave/2013.html) [luxury crossover SUV](http://www.buick.com/enclave-luxury-crossover-suv.html) arriving this fall, Buick’s lineup will continue to expand in the coming year with two all-new models – the 250-horsepower (187 kW) [Verano Turbo](http://media.buick.com/media/us/en/buick/vehicles/Verano/2013.html) [luxury sedan](http://www.buick.com/verano-luxury-sedan.html) and the versatile [Encore](http://media.buick.com/media/us/en/buick/vehicles/encore/2013.html) [luxury crossover](http://www.buick.com/encore-luxury-crossover-suv.html). No matter the size, safety is a cornerstone of every new Buick. [Full article…> ](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0625_buicksafety.html) **OnStar: Most Kids Unprepared for Auto Emergencies** For emergencies in the car, young children often do not know what to do. A recent study by OnStar and [Kelton Research](http://keltonglobal.com/) found that less than half of parents are sure that their children would know at least one measure to take in the event of a car crash (46 percent) or a medical emergency in or around a vehicle (47 percent). Comparatively, 72 percent of parents expect their kids would know what to do if there was a fire in the home. [Full story…> ](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0619_OnStar.html) **GM Studying Operator Behavior in Self-Driving Vehicles** How would driver behavior change in the self-driving vehicles that could be available by mid-decade? General Motors and its research partners recently tried to find out by studying how non-driving activities influence driver behavior in self-steering, semi-autonomous vehicles. One key finding is that driver attentiveness can be improved through advanced driver assistance and safety features. [Full article…>](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0620_humanfactors.html) **OnStar Reaches Milestones in China** Shanghai OnStar, General Motors’ in-vehicle safety, security and communication service joint venture, achieved two major milestones in May with its subscriber base across China reaching 450,000, and requests for Turn-by-Turn Navigation totaling 13.8 million since the launch of the service in October 2009. [Full article…> ](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0611_OnStar.html) **RESOURCE PRESERVATION** **Recharging Colorado Conservation Efforts - A Q&A with Linda Campbell, Chairwoman, Colorado Conservation Trust** General Motors donated a [Chevrolet Volt](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/vehicles/volt/2012.html) to the nonprofit [Colorado Conservation Trust](http://coloradoconservationtrust.org/colorado-conservation-trust/). The vehicle will be auctioned off, as a result of the silent auction at the annual “Q for Conservation” event that generates revenue for conservation projects throughout the state. Linda Campbell, committed conservationist and chairwoman of the CCT, discusses the Volt, preservation projects and protection of natural resources. [Full article…>](http://generalmotors.posterous.com/recharging-colorado-conservation-efforts-a-qa) **PHILANTHROPY** **$250,000 GM Gift to Help Put Vets to Work** GM and the GM Foundation are contributing $250,000 to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Chamber Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes program, a national grassroots effort to find jobs for returning veterans and their spouses, many of whom have put their own careers on hold because of long separations and overseas deployments due to military service. [Full article…> ](http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jun/0619_hero.html) [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/106821423-1610125493528-Untitled-5.jpg)](/profiles/general-motors) ### More from General Motors ###### [Used General Motors Fire Hoses Get New Life at Potter Park Zoo](/news/used-general-motors-fire-hoses-get-new-life-potter-park-zoo) Jan 25, 2021 11:00 AM ET ###### [California Fire Foundation and General Motors Team up to Donate Vehicles to California Fire Departments](/news/california-fire-foundation-and-general-motors-team-donate-vehicles-california-fire-departments) Dec 17, 2020 1:00 PM ET ###### [General Motors Donates Face Masks and Flu Vaccines to California Communities](/news/general-motors-donates-face-masks-and-flu-vaccines-california-communities) Nov 18, 2020 2:45 PM ET ###### [General Motors Named One of America's Most Just Companies by Forbes and JUST Capital](/news/general-motors-named-one-americas-most-just-companies-forbes-and-just-capital) Oct 14, 2020 10:50 AM ET ###### [General Motors Receives EPA Green Power Leadership Award](/news/general-motors-receives-epa-green-power-leadership-award) Sep 22, 2020 4:45 PM ET ###### [GM Awarded for Global Sustainability Leadership Award](/news/gm-awarded-global-sustainability-leadership-award) Sep 8, 2020 2:40 PM ET ###### [GM’s Spring Hill Manufacturing to Run on the Sun](/news/gms-spring-hill-manufacturing-run-sun) May 14, 2020 11:05 AM ET ###### [General Motors and DTE Energy are Making Michigan a Clean Energy Powerhouse](/news/general-motors-and-dte-energy-are-making-michigan-clean-energy-powerhouse) Apr 20, 2020 11:30 AM ET