Sustainable site leadership
by Lara Wallentine, Manager, Worldwide Environmental
Safety and Health Communications
Recent run-ups in gas prices and highly publicized reports
on global warming have heightened public awareness and
concern about the state of the environment. As a result,
how to make products and buildings that reduce environmental
impact and conserve resources is becoming smart business.
In 2006, TI completed construction of its first green
manufacturing site, RFAB, in Richardson, Texas. While
designing this state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing
facility, TI was able to prove that efficient design
could save money and benefit the environment.
The design team used Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) principles to guide its development in
an effort to reduce costs and environmental impact.
The fab was built for an estimated 30 percent less than
the cost of a smaller TI plant nearby, and operating
costs were projected to be considerably lower. RFAB
was also an ecological achievement because it reduced
air emissions, energy use and water needs.
 TI
has completed documentation for the RFAB construction
project and hopes to secure LEED certification in 2007.
Although LEED is a U.S.-centered program, TI plans to
extend LEED-guided construction to any future locations.
The company also set a goal to pursue LEED-Existing
Building (EB) certification for all of TI’s U.S.
buildings by 2011. As TI grew more familiar with LEED,
it became apparent that TI sites already follow many
of the certification requirements and that with some
adjustment and documentation these sites can qualify
for LEED-EB.
TI’s success and leadership in green building
not only awakened certifiable green building possibilities
within the company; it also generated interest throughout
the semiconductor industry and has attracted global
news media attention and public praise.
 TI’s
RFAB experience inspired the industry’s first
workshop on the economic, social and ecological benefits
of environmentally friendly semiconductor factories.
In October 2006, SEMATECH presented “The Green
Fab Challenge” at its Symposium on Manufacturing
Effectiveness. Paul Westbrook, sustainable development
manager for TI’s Worldwide Construction, was a
blue-ribbon panelist at the event.
More on TI’s environmental and social initiatives
will be available in July in the company’s first
Corporate Citizenship Report.
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