Corporate Responsibility

Operations: Carbon Footprint

Since 2005, we have reduced our carbon footprint by 45 percent by implementing energy-saving measures, consolidating facilities and increased usage of renewable energy (excluding reductions due to divested businesses).

Despite achieving a significant reduction in our absolute carbon footprint, we did not achieve our 2010 goal to reduce our normalized carbon footprint (relative to sales) by 15 percent from 2005 levels, due to weaker sales.

In 2010, our carbon footprint (scope 1 and 2 emissions from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol) totaled 369,851 tonnes CO₂ equivalent, compared to 671,791 tonnes in 2005.

These figures are based on:

• Actual data covering 78 percent of total floor space in 2010, and 59 percent in 2005
• Estimated impact based on average energy per square foot for the remaining percent

Although we achieved this reduction in our total emissions of CO₂ equivalent since 2005, our normalized emissions have increased slightly due to weaker sales in 2010.

In 2010, about 23 percent of the electricity we purchased globally was from renewable sources. Our goal is to increase our global use of electricity from renewable sources to 30 percent by 2020. In addition to the 6 percent of renewable energy available by default in the power grid, about 17 percent of our global electricity came from voluntary purchases. This includes Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) purchased from wind power in the U.S. and hydro power purchased directly from the generator in Germany and Denmark.

For the second consecutive year, we received a Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for our commitment to renewable energy and for the first time we were one of only four organizations nationwide to be chosen as Green Power Partner of the year. In addition, Motorola, Inc. qualified for the EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club as 30 percent of the electricity it used in the U.S. came from renewable sources. This distinction is given to organizations that have significantly exceeded the EPA’s minimum purchase requirements.

Motorola has frequently appeared on EPA’s National Top 50 List, highlighting some of the largest green power purchasers in the U.S.

In the U.S., Motorola Solutions purchases Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) that support electricity generation from wind energy. The RECs are purchased from NativeEnergy, which supports Native American, farmer-owned, community-based renewable energy projects helping create social, economic and environmental benefits.

Read more about our energy management performance.

External verification

Through our participation in the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has verified our 2010 global emissions, excluding estimates used to scale up our carbon footprint (see below). The CCX North America voluntary cap and trade program completed on 31 December 2010, but we will continue to use CCX to verify our carbon emissions.

This verification ensures that our reported greenhouse gas emissions conform to the CCX Rulebook and World Business Council for Sustainable Development/World Resources Institute Greenhouse Gas Accounting Protocol for direct and indirect emission sources. Due to the timing required for the verification process, the data verified lags this report by two years.

Carbon footprint: global greenhouse gas emissions (Units in Tonnes CO₂ equivalent)

*Includes boilers, emergency generators, fire pumps, cooking appliances, and aircraft

Employee business travel

Our commercial air travel, rail travel, car rentals, leased cars and business travel in employee-owned cars resulted in 125,438 tonnes CO₂ equivalent emissions, compared to 146,845 tonnes in 2008, a 14.6 percent reduction.

Our travel policy requires that when possible, employees minimize travel by utilizing audio-conferencing, web meetings, and video-conferencing. Employees can read tips on how to reduce their travel related carbon footprint on a dedicated intranet site.

In 2010, employees conducted 120,626 hours of web meetings, in many cases avoiding the need to travel.

Related links and resources

• Improving product packaging
• Operations: energy management, performance and goals