Through a grant from the state of California, Mohawk Industries (Calhoun, Ga.) has leased five semi trucks that run on liquefied natural gas. The semis, leased from Ryder System Inc., will support day-to-day customer deliveries in Southern California.

"Natural gas as a fuel source produces 20 to 23 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than standard diesel fuel," said Dave Mizerowski, business development manager for Clean Energy, which operates more than 240 natural gas filling stations nationwide.

Besides being more green than conventional semis that run on diesel fuel, Mohawk workers said the natural-gas-powered vehicles make good business sense, too.

"With diesel fuel sitting at just over four dollars a gallon, over time we will cut our fuel costs nearly in half with natural gas trucks," said Stan Brooks, senior director of transportation for Mohawk Industries.

Mohawk is also nearing completion of a 16,800-unit solar power installation on the roof of its distribution center in Fontana, Calif.; at 849,000 square feet, the building is nearly a half mile long. Excess energy from the installation will be directed back into the local power grid.

"Our landlord, ProLogis, through a partnership with Southern California Edison, approached us with this project due to our building’s size and location," said Mathew Witte, director of regional operations for Mohawk Flooring. "With the roof installed and fully operational, our team members at the Fontana site have experienced a much cooler—and more environmentally friendly—workplace."


Buck