Infineon Raceway's Sustainability Efforts

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Infineon Raceway Solar Install (2011)
Photo: Colin Monahan

Infineon Raceway has long been active as it relates to sustainability, but the Sonoma Valley facility is taking things to a new level with its Accelerating Sustainable Performance program in 2011.

The raceway took a giant step forward in its sustainability efforts last November through a partnership with Panasonic Corporation of North America, which included a major solar installation that accounts for 41-percent of the raceway’s overall energy usage, as well as a dual-sided, solar-powered LED board on Highway 37 just outside the raceway. In all, 1,652 of Panasonic’s Sanyo solar panels were installed, including atop the Turn 10 sound wall on the road course.

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Through the Accelerating Sustainable Performance program, the raceway also looks to feature zero or low-carbon racing at major events and will host a summit of sustainability industry leaders at the Accelerating Sustainable Performance Summit the week of the Indy® Grand Prix of Sonoma, Aug. 24-26. Amyris, an integrated renewable products company focused on providing sustainable alternatives to a broad range of petroleum-sourced products, has signed on as lead sponsor of the summit.

In addition to Panasonic and Amyris, other current partners participating in the Accelerating Sustainable Performance program include Safety-Kleen and PG&E, which conducted a comprehensive energy audit of the raceway earlier this year. Here's an outline of Infineon Raceway’s current sustainability initiatives:

Solar Power
Infineon Raceway has entered into a partnership with Panasonic, which includes a major solar-electric-power-generating installation of nearly 1,700 solar panels at the raceway with a capacity of more than 350 kilowatts, along with a new dual-sided, solar-powered LED display board along Highway 37.

Recycling
Since 2004, Infineon Raceway has recycled more than 141 tons (282,541 pounds) of materials. The raceway has been recognized by the State of California Department, Division of Recycling for its recycling efforts. Below is a breakdown of the recycling totals from 2010:

Aluminum: 2,384 pounds
Glass: 9,209 lbs.
Plastics: 9,594 lbs.
Single stream overages: 37,210
Metal debris: 12,740 lbs.
Cardboard: 49,880 lbs.
Tires: 14,000 lbs.

Green Performance
The raceway ventured into green technology on-track for the first time in 2010, highlighted by the debut of the TTXGP U.S. Championships which marked the first zero-emission motorcycle race on American soil. The TTXGP Series will return to Sonoma, May 13-15, 2011.

Mowing Green
The raceway is home to 3,000 sheep, which help to maintain the grasses and fire lanes around the facility. The raceway formed a relationship with Rocky Mountain Wooly Weeders in 2008, which provides the sheep. The sheep live on property full-time and are tended by two shepherds.

NASCAR Green Clean Air
Infineon Raceway participates in NASCAR’s “Green Clean Air” project, a unique program that plants ten trees for each green flag dropped during NASCAR races, capturing 100% of the carbon produced by the on track racing at the events. Infineon Raceway has planted more than 100 trees in Petaluma and Vallejo.

Motor Oil Refining
Infineon Raceway also works with Safety-Kleen to recycle used oil products at its NASCAR and NHRA events. Safety-Kleen refines more than 200,000 gallons of used motor oil each year at racing events and a total of 200 million gallons of used motor oil from customers throughout North America.

Clean Green
Clean facilities are very important at Infineon Raceway, and to that end, 90-percent of the janitorial products we use in 2011 will be environmentally-friendly.

Water Conservation
Infineon Raceway will continue to conserve and reduce its demand for water with waterless urinals in restrooms, which reduce our water consumption by 36-percent. Plus, the raceway is home to an independent water system and sewage treatment plant, and is not dependent on the county or city for its water needs. All landscaping is watered with recycled and reclaimed water.

Rubber to Roads
The raceway will send old tires to be recycled in 2011 so that they can be used to help create rubber-based asphalt, playground padding and other purposes.

Hybrid Toyotas
The pace car at the 2011 Toyota/Save Mart 350 will be a Toyota Camry Hybrid. In addition, more than 25-percent of Infineon Raceway’s fleet of Toyota vehicles are powered by Hybrid engines.

Owls Welcome
There are 15 owl boxes around the property designed to encourage owls to nest and hunt for gophers and other rodents. One family of Barn Owls can eat 30-to-40 rodents a night, which helps the raceway eliminate the need for pesticides and other poisons in controlling pests.

Suites
All paper products (paper plates, napkins, flat ware, cups, etc.) used in Infineon Raceway’s suites are either made from recycled or biodegradable materials. Beginning in 2011, Levy Restaurants, the exclusive caterer of Infineon Raceway, will not use plastic, single-use disposable serving platters in the suites or caterings.

Concessions
All of the concession stands and vendors use biodegradable paper trays and liners. Ninety-percent of the cups used are made from recycled or biodegradable materials, and all beverages are served in recyclable containers.

For more information on the Accelerating Susbainable Performance program, visit www.acceleratingsustainableperformance.com

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