Climate
Qualcomm is committed to being a positive force in the protection and enhancement of the local and global environment, which includes addressing global climate change.
See How Qualcomm is Going Greener
Throughout our history, Qualcomm has maintained a strong position on corporate and social responsibility. The latest evidence of our commitment is the state-of-the-art cogeneration plant at Building P on Morehouse campus in San Diego. The first of its kind in the U.S., this 4.3 megawatt Mercury 50 gas turbine paired with a 1,320 ton Broad absorption chiller, creates one of the most efficient, lowest emissions combined heat and power systems currently available.
In simple terms, this means the company can generate a good deal of its own power, and do it while being kind to the environment.
How Does the Plant in Building P Work?:
- A Mercury 50 natural gas turbine generates 4.3 megawatts of electricity as well as low emissions.
- One megawatt can power 10,000 100-watt light bulbs.
- Exhaust from the turbine, which exits the unit at 700 degrees Fahrenheit, goes into a 1,300-ton absorption chiller.
- Using energy that would otherwise go to waste, the chiller produces industrial cooling water for the campus air-conditioning system.
Combined with the cogeneration plant in Building W, the company self-generates almost 90% of the electricity used at these two campuses.
Together, the two cogeneration units save 6,172 tons per year in greenhouse gas emissions (CO2), equal to removing the annual carbon emissions of 1,052 cars or the average amount of electricity consumed by 2,592 homes per year.
Qualcomm Blue Goes Green - New Environmentally Friendly Shuttle
In an effort to reduce emissions and better it's fuel efficiency, the Qualcomm Shuttle Team has added two Toyota Priuses and the Toyota Highlander to its pool of service vehicles. The Prius is a hybrid gas/electric sedan that comfortably seats four and gets 60 miles per gallon in the city. The Highlander is a hybrid SUV that seats 7 and gets 22 - 28 mpg.
“We are extremely proud of this effort and see it as a huge step toward cutting back on fuel consumption while improving overall efficiency,” stated Larry Jordan, Senior Manager of Facilities.
The response to the team's recent switch to an on-call style of service has been tremendous with ridership doubling over the past few months. However, the absence of the set schedule has also led to fewer large groups utilizing the service, greatly reducing the need to operate large multi-passenger vans. These dramatic changes prompted this move to smaller more economical and environmentally friendly vehicles. According to shuttle driver Frank Rojas, “feedback from those who use the shuttle has been very positive.”
