ford rouge

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Copyright 2004 The Henry Ford 1

Begin

The 21st Century Ford Rouge Factory:

Environmental Innovations



Begin

In 1917, the site of today’s Rouge Plant was marshland—a thousand acres of cheap, barely useable land.

Start of Rouge Plant Construction. Feb. 20, 1918. (Photo ID 833.21330)



Henry Ford’s vision of a factory that could process iron ore and other raw materials and transform them into complete automobiles grew to be the largest factory on earth, a distinction it held for many years.

Aerial View of the Rouge, 1940s. (Photo ID

833.99210.54)

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Over eighty years of use transformed the once-bright and spacious plant into a darker and dirtier one. Over the same period concerns about pollutants and the use of natural resources also changed.

Aerial view of the Rouge, 1940s. (Photo ID XXX.XXXXX)

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In 2000, the Ford Motor Company decided to transform the Rouge plant into a facility that would be both profitable and environmentally friendly.

Aerial View of the Dearborn Truck Plant at the Rouge, 2005.(Ford Motor Company)

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The innovations used at the Ford Rouge Center involve managing water, soil, daylight, and fresh air.

Ford Rouge Center, 2004. (Ford Motor Company)

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Managing Water

The 10.4 acre living roof is perhaps the Center’s most visible innovation.

Dearborn Truck Plant living roof, 2004. (Ford Motor

Company)

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Managing Water

Sedum plants cut down the expansion and contraction caused by the sun, allowing the roof to last twice as long as a conventional metal or tar roof. The plants also help to insulate the interior from extremes of heat and cold.

Birds eggs on the Dearborn Truck Plant living roof, 2004 (Ford Motor Company)

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Managing Water

The sedum traps dust, consumes greenhouse effect-causing carbon dioxide, and reduces the storm water run-off passing into streams and rivers. The sedum never needs mowing—its height does not exceed six inches, and it spreads sideways crowding-out unwanted weeds. Caption. (For d Motor Company)

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Managing Water

No soil is used—the sedum is planted in a four-layer mat: * The top layer is made of shale, sand, peat, compost, and dolomite.* Next is a layer of fleece made from re-cycled materials.* Next is a porous drainage layer.* Finally a membrane prevents seepage into the building

Living roof four-layer mat for planting sedum. (Ford

Motor Company)

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Managing WaterSudden flows of storm water can wash dirt from paved surfaces into streams, rivers, and lakes. Two of the parking lots at the Ford Rouge Center have an experimental porous surface that allows water to pass into buried stone basins. Storm water that falls on the roof is absorbed or filtered by the plants. Excess runoff is channeled into the stone storagebasins beneath the parking lot.

Porous pavement at the Rouge, 2004. (Ford Motor

Company)

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Managing Water

From the basins the water then drains through a natural filtering system made up of vegetated ditches (also called swales), newly-planted trees, and planted wetlands: the roots of all these plants help to filter the run-off before it passes into rivers and lakes. View of Dearborn Truck Plant and Rouge Visitor

Center, 2004. (Ford Motor Company)

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Managing Water

By developing wetlands, a small part of the Rouge is being returned to its original condition. These new habitats attract water fowl as well as other plants and animals.

View of Rouge Visitor Center, 2005. (Ford Motor

Company)

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Managing Soil

Over the years, portions of the Rouge complex became contaminated with by-products from the ovens that used to make materials for steel-making. Ford is working with scientists from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan-Dearborn to clean the site using a biological process called phytoremediation. Planting at the Rouge to clean soil, 2004. (Ford Motor

Company)

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Managing Soil

Phytoremediation uses plants to break down contaminants into harmless chemicals which are then absorbed into the vegetation’s roots. This solar-driven, environmentally-beneficial process will not only clean and beautify the landscape but also restore wildlife habitat.

More phytoremediation at the Rouge, 2004. (Ford

Motor Company)

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Managing Daylight and Air

The environment inside the plant has also been transformed. A one million gallon thermal water storage tank helps cool the building in the summer. A ductless air tempering system replaces the air every 30 minutes. Dearborn Truck Plant interior, 2004. (Ford Motor

Company)




The building’s structure includes glass monitors with an area of around 33,000 square feet—on a sunny day this allows about half of the electric lights to be turned off.

Dearborn Truck Plant living roof and light

monitors, 2004. (Ford Motor Company)




Energy-efficient glass reduces glare and heat from the sun. Using natural light also improves color perception, reduces eyestrain, and improves mood.

Dearborn Truck Plant living roof and light

monitors, 2005. (Ford Motor Company)

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