EVERETT — The largest building by volume and 1,000 acres: The Boeing Co.’s Everett site is impressive for its sheer size.
But much of the factory and many of the separate buildings were constructed more than 40 years ago, when the term “environmentally friendly” was barely a whisper.
The site’s age and expanse pose challenges for Frank Migaiolo, who oversees many of Boeing’s environmental projects in Everett. The company has undertaken a number of efforts to reduce its environmental footprint but has more on tap, with many ideas from employees, Migaiolo said.
“The employees here have just taken it and run with it,” he said.
Here’s a look at what Boeing is doing:
Waste
One unique way that Boeing is reducing waste: changing the way it receives materials from suppliers. “It’s a partnership with the suppliers,” Migaiolo said.
Nancy Coghe, a manufacturing clerk, showed off some of the new shipping containers — suitcases, large canvas bags and sturdy reusable carts.
“We use the same suitcase until it breaks,” she said.
These new shipping methods eliminate thousands of pounds of packaging material — bubble wrap, tape, cardboard. They also save Boeing workers time.
“There’s zero waste with these,” Coghe said.
“If we can prevent something from going into the landfill, we should,” she added.
Changes in packaging have saved Boeing $4 million, Coghe said. They reduced suppliers’ costs as well.
Recycling
In the past year, Boeing has installed recycling centers in the Everett factory. The centers, as well as portable carts, cover everyday recycling needs such as aluminum cans and plastic water bottles, as well as manufacturing needs such as cardboard and plastic wrap.
“Everybody does it at home and you feel guilty if you don’t,” Migaiolo said.
Water consumption
Last year, Boeing installed a weather monitoring system at the site. The system essentially helps Boeing reduce the amount of water it uses for landscape irrigation by monitoring how much precipitation the area will receive.
Typically, Boeing’s Everett site uses 2.7 million gallons of water — enough to fill four Olympic-size swimming pools — each year. The monitoring system reduces that by 200,000 gallons.
Energy
The power bill for the largest building by volume must be mind-boggling. The factory runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And Boeing’s Everett site includes a high-rise office building, paint hangars, parking garages and lots.
It’s no wonder, then, that Boeing has both financial and environmental incentives for cutting its power bill. One way the company has reduced its power use is by installing motion sensors in the factory and office buildings to shut off lights when people aren’t around. Last year, the company saved 4.8 million kilowatt hours of electricity — enough to power 450 homes for a year — at its Everett site.
Commuting
With nearly 30,000 workers at the Everett site, Boeing has both transportation and parking to keep in mind.
The company has been working with Sound Transit to minimize cuts in routes to the factory as government-funded transportation programs struggle to deal with shrinking budgets. Boeing is also giving priority parking to cars with two or more commuters, organizing van pools and encouraging biking to work.
“We’ve got a strong commuting program,” Migaiolo said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
