Eric Graham

Improving Dell One Panel at a Time: Eric Graham Makes Dell a Better, More Sustainable Place to Work

Eric Graham is determined to create a cost-effective, comfortable environment at Dell. Although cost effective and comfortable don’t always go hand-in-hand, Eric’s most recent project — parking lot solar panels — achieves both objectives.

As Facilities Global Energy and Sustainability Manager, Eric knows the company’s largest energy expense is heating and cooling Dell buildings around the world. His Global Energy Team constantly looks for ways to fine-tune the air temperature controls, replace end-of-life systems and upgrade systems where improvements will make a measurable difference. The ultimate goal is to use more renewable energy when possible which, in turn, reduces Dell’s carbon footprint and operating expenses. (In addition, Dell has contracts for renewable power in locations where renewable power is available from utility companies. These contracts typically consist of wind and landfill gas power contracts.)

Eric proposed that Dell install solar panels in the parking lot of Building 2 on the Round Rock, Texas campus as a beta test site to add renewable energy to the company’s portfolio.

Since October 5, 2009, 60 percent of the lighting in the Round Rock 2 East building has been provided by solar panels. To date, the panels have saved 36,000 kWh, putting the building on track to realize a savings of 131,000 kWh for the year.

“This solar panel project is one of the few projects where I received overwhelming support from the employees. It just makes sense — to our employees and to our customers that support renewable energy. It’s good for the environment, good for business, and the employees now have covered parking!” Eric said.

Unfortunately, parking lot solar panels aren’t the answer for all Dell buildings. Eric did his research. He knew that the utility rebate and the federal tax incentives would make the project feasible, but that’s not the case in every location. So Eric and the Global Facilities Energy Sustainability Team continue to look for other ways — additional lighting retrofits, solar water heating, mechanical control upgrades, building shell improvements — to meet the department’s ultimate goal. With the potential to reduce Dell’s global energy use by 5.6 million kWh per year, these types of projects are important to Dell as a company, and to our employees, as we strive to make a difference today for a better tomorrow.