🚗 Project Spotlight: Level 1 ASHRAE Energy Audit – Ford Silverton Assembly Plant, Pretoria

Client: Ford Motor Company
Location: Silverton, Pretoria
Sector: Automotive Manufacturing
Project Type: Baseline Energy Assessment & ASHRAE Level 1 Energy Audit

🔧 Project Summary
Green Building Design Group (GreenBDG Africa) was commissioned to conduct a Level 1 ASHRAE Energy Audit and Baseline Energy Assessment at Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant—one of South Africa’s largest automotive manufacturing facilities. This plant is a key production site for the Ford Ranger pickup, servicing both the domestic market and exports to over 100 countries worldwide.

The audit focused on five critical energy domains:

• 💡 Lighting Systems

• ❄️ HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)

• 💧 Water Usage

• 🔄 Compressed Air Systems

• ♨️ Water Heating Units

This foundational audit was instrumental in preparing the site for the rollout of a 13.5MW solar PV facility launched in 2022, aligning with Ford’s global sustainability targets and regional climate resilience commitments.

📊 Process Analysis & ESG Integration
In parallel, GreenBDG developed bespoke energy profiles based on the plant’s operational data, allowing for:

• Accurate energy baseline development prior to renewable energy integration

• Identification of high-impact retrofit opportunities

• Real-time energy performance benchmarking using ESG-aligned dashboard tools

This data-driven approach supports automotive industry’s transition toward AI-enabled energy efficiency, laying the groundwork for scalable, measurable, and cost-effective decarbonisation across their manufacturing footprint.