Pocono international raceway is producing its own energy .
The raceway has its own solar farm in service.
Racetrack takes the lead in green performance
October 17, 2011 | Length: 00:02:51
Infineon Raceway in Northern California wants to be at the nexus of sustainability and performance by becoming a pioneer in green performance racing. SmartPlanet correspondent Priya David Clemens reports how the racetrack is shaping its focus on the future by hosting electric motorcycle races, bringing in concept cars, and even using sheep to mow their lawns.
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Electric motor cycle racing
Posted by tomedsmith
19th Oct
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Electric motor cycle racing
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19th Oct
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Posted by Jimbfo
18th Oct
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Electric motor cycle racing
There is already an electric motor cycle race each year in the Isle of Man TT Races.
Ergo, Infineon Raceway cannot be the first.
Ergo, Infineon Raceway cannot be the first.
Posted by tomedsmith
19th Oct
Transcript
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Priya: Nestled in the heart of idyllic Northern California farmland, Infineon Raceway seems the antithesis of its green surroundings. The sound of high-octane, fossil-fuel burning motors slices through the calm wine country air.
Steve: Car racing is associated with big, loud engines and petroleum and lots of horsepower and exhaust.
Priya: But take a closer look and you may see a surprising harmony between nature and machine as Infineon takes the lead in sustainable racing.
Steve: Where's the intersection of green and performance, and we want that to be here.
Priya: The racetrack is a pioneer with the first ever electric motorcycle race held in 2011, and more electric vehicle drag races and showcases to come.
Steve: We're going to have an Audi TDI diesel running amorous alternative diesel fuel. We're going to have a Tesla. We're going to have a Fisker. We're going to show people that the fact that you're going green doesn't mean you have to sacrifice performance. And what better place than a racetrack to deliver that message.
Priya: Infineon may be racing into the future but sometimes they tap into the past to get ahead like using thousands of sheep as lawnmowers.
Jennifer: It's really alleviated the need to use like the two-stroke motors that, you know, a typical weed whacker would use so we don't have to use any of the oil, any of the noise. They really do a great job to maintain the grasses. They do a much better job than any weed whacker ever could.
Priya: All the water comes from onsite springs and wells. And after it's used for drinking water, irrigation, and waste disposal, it's recycled to treated ponds on the property. But by far, the most lucrative green investment the racetrack has made is the installation of 1600 solar panels.
Steve: The solar panels are going to generate a little over 40 percent of the electricity we use as a facility so nominally that savings will be about $100,000 a year on our current electric rates.
Priya: There's a large installation on the side of this main racetrack building and a smaller one to power the 7,000 lights for this LED sign guided by a solar tracker.
Jennifer: It's most efficient because it tracks the sun throughout the day. So, in the morning, it starts off facing east; and now here we are in the afternoon and -- and it's facing west so it actually tracks the sun throughout the entire day.
Priya: The racetrack says it's motivated to stand out by being the leader in sustainable performance racing.
Steve: We are a very high-profile business. We have hundreds of thousands of visitors here every year. So what we are trying to do is not only be responsible ourselves but to set an example to the people who come out and visit and we really want to be a showcase.
Priya: Priya David Clemens for SmartPlanet.
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