On July 9, D.C.-area properties opened their doors to 2019 Summit attendees to showcase their stand-out energy, water, and renewable efficiency measures. Below are highlights from one of the tours.
AstraZeneca opened its Gaithersburg, Maryland, campus -- one of its global strategic R&D centers – to 2019 Summit attendees for a tour of the facility. Sustainability is a big part of the corporate culture at AstraZeneca and the Gaithersburg facility was the first research facility to be ISO 50001 and SEP-certified.
The tour began with an interactive session with Mike Dieterich, Energy & Sustainability Manager for the campus, who explained the company’s sustainability and energy management philosophy and gave an insider perspective of what it takes to pursue net-zero energy and zero waste in the highly-regulated and competitive biopharmaceutical research market. Focus areas included the facility’s combined heat and power (CHP) system, the solar PV carports, the extensive composting program, and a cutting-edge energy management system. A facility walkthrough of the modern and vibrant campus followed, ending at the plant’s CHP system. The base 2.5MW CHP system was put in place to reduce dependency on the grid and helps AstraZeneca drive energy savings and reduce environmental impacts. The participants interacted with personnel responsible for the day-to-day operation of the CHP system to get to know the intricacies involved in running it at an optimal level.
Enjoy photos from the tour below!
1. Solar PV carports installed at the Campus
2. Clearly-defined waste segretation at the cafeteria
3. Benches made with 100% recycled materials sourced from waste generated onsite
4. Tour participants in front of the CHP installation at AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg
