Wildlife habitats and manufacturing facilities might seem like natural-born enemies, but thanks to the efforts of the folks at Ford Motor Company’s Romeo Engine Plant, the factory and its neighboring flora and fauna are living in harmony. For its efforts, the Southeast Michigan factory has earned a Neighborhood Environmental Partners (NEP) Award from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for the work it has done with the Wildlife Habitat Council and the Macomb Orchard Trail.

Working for Wildlife

Romeo Engine Plant, which has been a “Wildlife at Work” site, certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council since 1999, has worked to preserve and protect the natural resources surrounding the facility and provide places where the community can enjoy opportunities for recreation and refreshment.

Romeo Engine Plant, which produces a variety of engines, including flex fuel engines, covers 126 acres, with the surrounding 141 acres of land consisting of wetland, forest and grassland areas. Its wildlife team focuses on plant community management, bird population monitoring and environmental awareness. In an effort to attract native birds and create a natural setting near the manufacturing facility, employees planted numerous trees and set up and maintain nest boxes for bluebirds and screech owls.

Orchard Trail Effort Bears Fruit

Romeo Engine Plant’s wildlife team is working with the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development on the development of the trail at the north end of the plant property. The Macomb Orchard Trail is a non-motorized path that will provide users with a safe transportation and exercise route through central and northern Macomb County. At a length of more than 23 miles it will be the largest hike/bike path in the county, and one of the largest in southeast Michigan. This 236 acre linear park will serve as an important connection between local communities and the surrounding area. Locally, it will connect people to parklands, downtowns, businesses, schools, residences, and open spaces. Regionally, it will provide a connection from St. Clair County to Oakland County, and on a state-wide basis, the trail system will ultimately span from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan.

Ford provided two grants throughout the development of the Macomb County Trail, which were used to build an observation platform and fishing pier at East Pond Creek – a certified trout stream. Ford also provided an opportunity for interns from the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Michigan – Dearborn to improve their skills by working with Romeo Engine Plant and the Macomb County Office of Planning and Economic Development to develop the trail. The interns also helped develop an ecologically friendly berm to the north of the Romeo Engine Plant, which improved aesthetics for users of the trail.

Cleaning and Greening

To promote habitat awareness and active participation, Romeo Engine Plant’s wildlife team organizes an annual tree sale and plant exchange. The team also coordinates recycling events and clean-up days with the surrounding community. To celebrate Earth Day 2006, the plant Human Resources Department, in conjunction with Ford’s Hands on Diversity Project, organized a voluntary construction of employee gardens at the site, with hostas, bulbs and annuals enlivening a previously barren area.

In 2008, Romeo Engine Plant also conducted an Earth Day Clean Up, did spring and winter bird counts, and cleaned a portion of East Pond Creek near the plant.

QUOTES

“We are gratified that Romeo Engine Plant is able to help protect the environment where it operates. Every year Ford Motor Company employees volunteer generously of their time and energy to help reduce environmental impact while promoting sustainability. The Neighborhood Environmental Partners (NEP) Award highlights Romeo Engine Plant’s achievements and challenges others to play a similar role in their communities.”
– Andy Hobbs, Director, Environmental Quality Office, Ford Motor Company

“Romeo Engine Plant understands the importance of being a Neighborhood Environmental Partner with the diverse area surrounding our plant. Romeo Engine Plant employees have been involved closely in many efforts to sustain this diverse ecology with our neighbors and have enjoyed working with the Wildlife Habitat Council and The Department of Planning and Economic Development of Macomb County.”
– Shaun Whitehead, Romeo Engine Plant manager, Ford Motor Company

“I have personally experienced the benefits of working with the Ford facility as the fiduciary of an environmental grant. The construction of a rest station and small fishing pier along the Macomb Orchard Trail was made possible due to the financial support and commitment of the plant’s staff.”
– Gerard P. Santoro, AICP, Senior Planner, Department of Planning
and Economic Development, Macomb County, Michigan

“Romeo Engine Plant’s Wildlife at Work program represents a full ten years of commitment to land stewardship and support for native species, which is a remarkable achievement. The plant’s wildlife team puts a premium on community involvement, with tree sales, plant exchanges and educational opportunities. Ford’s Romeo Engine Plant is indeed a good neighbor to local wildlife.”
– Martha Gruelle, Director, Huron to Erie Waterways
for Wildlife Project, Wildlife Habitat Council

SOY-BASED SEATING FOAM SCORES A SIXTH AWARD

Say “soy foam” to some people and they might get a craving for a low-fat heart-healthy decaf cappuccino. If they make their morning “coffee run” in a 2008-or-later Ford Motor Company vehicle, there is an excellent chance they’ll be sitting on a type of soy-based foam already. That’s because Ford leads the industry in the use of this renewable bio-material, with the seat backs and cushions in eight of its vehicle platforms already containing soy foam.

Ford’s innovative use of environmentally friendly, soy-based foam has earned six prestigious awards to date, including the 2009 R&D 100 Award, R&D Magazine announced today. The award honors the latest technology developments across numerous industries that are designed to meet societal, scientific, or business challenges. Ford shares the honor with supplier Lear Corp.

Use of Soy Foam Expanding

Ford has a rich history in incorporating soy- based materials into its products. Ford was the first automaker in the world to demonstrate that soy-based polyols could be used at high percentage levels to make foam capable of meeting or exceeding automotive requirements. In 2004 Ford and Lear formed a partnership to commercialize soy-foam applications.

In August 2007 Ford introduced soy- foam seats on the 2008 Ford Mustang, and has since placed soy- foam seats in the Ford Expedition, F-150, Escape and Focus, as well as Mercury Mariner, Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln MKS and Mazda Tribute. By the end of the 2009 model year, more than 1 million Ford Motor Company vehicles will contain soy foam seats.

Ford continues to pursue new applications for soy foam including seats on additional Ford vehicle platforms in the near future, and soy-based padding in vehicle headliners. In addition, Ford scientists also are working on ways to use other parts of the versatile legume – such as soy flour and soy meal – in various automotive plastics for such parts as floor mats, door seals and underbody shields. The United Soybean Board sponsors some of the research for both soy foam and soy fillers in plastics.

Soy Supports Energy Independence

With soy foam in seats on one 1 million vehicles, Ford expects to decrease its use of petroleum oil by one 1 million pounds and reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by five 5 million pounds annually. Use of soy foam in seats also delivers superior product performance, and supports American farmers.

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, soy-based products have only one-quarter of the level of total environmental impact of petroleum-based products. Most automakers today use 100 percent petroleum-based polyol foam. Each vehicle contains an average of 30 pounds of petroleum-based foam in its seat backs, seat cushions, armrests, instrument panels and headliners.

QUOTES

“We’re honored that our work to develop soy foam is being recognized outside of the automotive industry. R&D Magazine is placing Ford in the company of innovators who touch virtually every area of our lives – from computing and communications to medicine and microscopy. ”
– Cynthia Flanigan, Ph.D., Ford plastics technical expert

“As Ford continues to increase its use of soy-based foam seats across many vehicle platforms, we’re reducing our environmental footprint by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, decreasing dependence on oil and moving toward sustainability.”
– Jerry Brown, Ford seat systems chief engineer

“Lear Corporation is grateful to R&D Magazine for this recognition and validation that our commitment to environmental stewardship is on target and helps our customers exceed consumer expectations. We accepted the challenge to be the leader of automotive interiors environmental innovation years ago and continue our focus on having meaningful impact with fast-to-market solutions such as soy-based seating foam enabled by collaborative research efforts with suppliers and customers.”
– Ash Galbreath, Lear Corp. director of advanced material

Mileage-maximizing techniques and the fuel-efficient 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid enabled drivers to get an astounding 1,445.7 miles from a single tank of gas.

Averaging 81.5 miles per gallon in a, non-modified 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, a team of drivers drove the vehicle around Washington.

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid 1,000 Mile Challenge team, which included NASCAR star Carl Edwards, high mileage trailblazer Wayne Gerdes and several Ford Motor Company engineers, maximized their mileage by using a few simple techniques that can be used in any vehicle to improve fuel economy.

Mileage-maximizing techniques include:

• Accelerating smoothly up to the posted speed limit
• Applying the “Pulse and Glide” technique while maintaining the flow of traffic
• Anticipating traffic signal timing and traffic patterns, and slowing down to minimize stops
• Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear
• Minimizing the use of vehicle systems such as heated seats and air conditioning
• Keeping windows closed whenever possible to reduce drag
• Minimizing excessive engine workload by using the vehicle’s kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed
• Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum

The Fusion Hybrid 1,000 Mile Challenge called upon the team to drive several routes in and around the national capital over the course of approximately 48 continuous hours. The drivers took turns during the round-the-clock event. The route involved elevation changes, and ranged from the relatively open George Washington Parkway to a 3-mile stretch in the heart of the city that is clogged with approximately 30 traffic signals.

Carl Edwards Drives Past 1000 Miles:

Quotes
“It was very exciting to be an active part in this challenge. The fact that it will help spread the word about the Fusion Hybrid’s great mileage, and help out a great charity like JDRF, makes it even more special. There’s no question that the Fusion Hybrid will help consumers save fuel when they drive it. Having driven the car, I feel strongly about how great it is – so strong that I’ve purchased one myself.”
- Carl Edwards, Ford NASCAR racer

“The Fusion Hybrid works brilliantly. When you don’t need acceleration power while driving around town the gas engine shuts down just the way it is supposed to. There is not another hybrid drivetrain in the world that does that as effectively. The Fusion engineering team really knocked it out of the park.”
- Wayne Gerdes, CleanMPG.com founder