Veolia Recognized for Environmental Excellence via ISO 14001 Certification

CHICAGO, April 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Veolia North America, a leading operator and developer of efficient energy solutions, announced that four of its U.S. facilities have been recognized for environmental excellence.  Sites in Philadelphia and Grand Rapids, Mich., as well as two locations in Boston, have achieved certification to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 Environmental Management System Standard.

"This achievement places Veolia among a select group of energy service companies worldwide with an ISO 14001 certification.  Continual improvement is core to our environmental, health and safety culture," said Bill DiCroce, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Veolia Environnement North America's Municipal and Commercial Business.  "We strive to help our customers improve their own energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. This internationally recognized environmental certification underscores our strong commitment to minimize environmental impacts as part of our daily operations."

ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard that emphasizes the continual improvement of an environmental management system (EMS) leading to improved environmental performance.  Organizations that have been registered to ISO 14001 show they are committed to reducing the effect of their business operations on the environment.

Veolia operations at these sites reflect the company's overall commitment to continuous improvement, as well as the importance of progressively managing environmental impact while supporting sustainability measures in the communities where the company operates.

• Boston – Helping to support the city of Boston in its carbon reduction goals, the Kneeland Street Plant is a year round facility providing thermal energy to downtown Boston buildings producing 1,275,000 lbs of steam per hour.  The 53 State Street office serves as a hub for the company's energy operations in the Northeast and provides corporate oversight role for the ISO certification.   In Boston and Cambridge, Mass., Veolia's district energy and cogeneration operations help the city avoid carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 475,000 tons, the equivalent of removing 80,000 cars from the roads.
• Philadelphia - The Grays Ferry/Schuylkill Station is a 163-megawatt cogeneration facility, serving nearly 300 customers in the central business district with steam and electricity.  By producing steam and electricity simultaneously, the plant avoids the emission of approximately 430,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, which is the equivalent of removing 70,000 automobiles from the streets each year.
• Grand Rapids, Mich. - Producing 450,000 pounds per hour of steam, the Grand Rapids plant serves over 100 customers in the central business district, including hospitals, commercial buildings and colleges ensuring consistent energy supply while reducing impact to the environment. 

As a world leader in environmental solutions, Veolia seeks to set the benchmark for sustainability. The scale of this challenge means transforming the company into a yardstick for exemplary performance. The company uses a series of indicators to gauge results with regard to environmental issues, human resources and sustainable purchasing — elements that contribute to Corporate Social Responsibility. These series of indicators allows the company to continuously improve its CSR performance through quantified targets and action plans.

PHOTOS:

• BOSTON: Kneeland Street Plant, owned and operated by Veolia, provides thermal energy to downtown Boston buildings helping support the city's carbon reduction goals.
• GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.: The Grand Rapids plant serves over 100 customers in the central business district, including hospitals, commercial buildings and colleges ensuring consistent energy supply while reducing impact to the environment.

Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE andNYSE: VE) is the worldwide reference in environmental solutions. With 220,000 employees*, the company has operations all around the world and provides tailored solutions to meet the needs of municipal and industrial customers in three complementary segments: water management, waste management and energy management. Veolia Environnement recorded revenue of $38.8 billion* in 2012. www.veolia.com Twitter @veolia. In North America @veolia_na

* Excluding Transdev employees and revenues currently under divestment

SOURCE VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA