This week, the Lamborghini headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, celebrated becoming the world’s first carbon-neutral factory, certified by global environmental assessment firm DNV GL.
“Sustainability is one of our company objectives, and we subscribe to a strong undertaking of environmental responsibility,” said Stephan Winkelmann, Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO.
The factory’s new trigeneration plant produces electricity, heating and cooling via natural gas; by 2017, when it transitions to biogas, the powerplant could eliminate up to 5,600 tons of C02 emissions per year.
Another 1,800 tons of CO2 is saved through a hot water–powered heating system, while a 15,000 square-metre photovoltaic plant and other advanced energy-saving systems significantly contribute to Lamborghini’s world-first rating.
Of course, it wouldn’t be truly green without a forest, so the automaker also planted 10,000 oak trees throughout the town.
Gian Luca Galletti, Italy’s Minister of the Environment, was present for this week’s factory festivities. “Automobili Lamborghini is the perfect example of how business can be done while respecting the environment,” he noted. “Here, profitability and sustainability are going hand in hand.”
Perhaps one of the automaker’s most ambitious goals was to reduce vehicle emissions 25 per cent by 2015 — done! So if the only thing holding you back from spending that trust fund on a Lambo is the guilt of burning too much fuel, you can put some of your qualms to rest.
