General Motors Corp. pledged this spring that the company had set a goal to reduce CO₂ emissions from its U.S. manufacturing operations by 40 percent by 2010. The Detroit-based auto manufacturer previously surpassed an announced goal of reducing such emissions by 10 percent by 2005. This was accomplished by increased use of solar power, seen here on the roof of the General Motors Service Parts Operations Parts Distribution Center in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif, and through a focus on energy conservation programs such as were demonstrated at the company’s new Lansing Delta Township assembly plant in Lansing, Mich., which last year earned LEED Gold recognition for green building designs.

The company said it would seek to meet the new goals through such projects as improving energy efficiencies, reducing waste, and increasing the use of renewable resources such as landfill gas and solar power.