Officials from the company saw the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony at the L3Harris Technology Center, Palm Bay, for a solar energy “tree”, as a symbol of the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
The event coincided with Melbourne-based L3Harris Technologies Inc.’s release of its latest annual corporate”sustainability report.”
L3Harris’ sustainability report stated that the company has achieved a 23% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and a 23% decrease in water consumption since 2019. There has also been a 48% reduction of solid waste going to landfills.
The company has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and water consumption by 20% by 2026. It also aims to reduce trash going to landfills by 75% compared to the base year of 2019.
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Christopher Kubasik is L3Harris vice chairman and chief executive officers. He said in the report that he remains focused on a 30% reduction in greenhouse gasemissions by 2026. This goal includes identifying renewable energy projects across his business beyond enterprise opportunities.
Kubasik called it a “major victory” when he cited the start of commercial operations for an L3Harris-supported 100 megawatt Elm Branch Solar Farm, Texas that will help eliminate approximately 110,000metric tons CO2 per year. The 1,350-acre farm houses more than 360,000 solar cells.
L3Harris Vice-President of Global Operations Byron Green stated, “This solar project reinforces the commitment to sustainability” It serves as an example of the benefits shared goals between several organizations can bring to our community and the environment.
L3Harris continues to develop technologies that solve complex sustainability problems as part of its environmental goals. L3Harris stated that its engineering teams have been “creating solutions to collect data and support environment sustainability from space to Earth.”
“Resiliency is the key to our success as we move forward,” said Todd Rimbey, vice-president and general manager for advanced technologies and systems at L3Harris.
The company stated that its global positioning system, or GPS technology, has been essential in tracking weather patterns since at least the 1950s. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationpartnered with L3Harris to equip Geostationary Operation Environmental Satellites with the company’s advanced baseline imager instruments to collect weather data a task that becomes more crucial as the intensity of severe weather events increases.
L3Harris GPS satellites are also important in tracking greenhouse gas emissions.
The company’s report stated, “Data collected from ground can be incomplete but the view from 12,600 m up is clear.” “L3Harris thermal-and-near-infrared sensor on Greenhouse Gases Observatory Satellite-2 measures carbon dioxide and methane, distinguishing between natural and man-made emission.”
L3Harris also offers the FVR-90 unmanned airplane system. This system is equipped with specialtechnology that collects data in difficult environments while keeping operators safe. This aircraft can fly in extreme conditions without human crews. It allows for longer flights, while saving fuel and allowing for fewer flights.
FVR-90 was instrumental in monitoring the Arctic Sea Ice’s seasonal breakup and shifting seal and fish population.
The company stated in its report that flights could capture more detailed data, going low and slow, which is not possible with manned aircraft.
L3Harris Technologies is a provider of advanced commercial and defense technologies across all domains, including space, land, sea, and cyber.
The company employs approximately 47,000 people worldwide, with 7,750 in Brevard County. This makes it the third-largest employer in Brevard, after Brevard Public Schools, Health First, and Brevard Public Schools.
L3Harrisha has more than $17 billion in annual revenues and customers in over 100 countries.
Dave Berman, business editor atFLORIDA TODAYContact Berman at [email protected]. Twitter: @bydaveberman.
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