Actions by Corporations

In addition to non-profit groups and government agencies, private corporations often offer suggestions to achieve energy efficiency. For instance, the Indiana-based energy holding company, Vectren, offers tips to consumers on analyzing monthly energy bills, rate of energy usage (and ways to save), and find energy-related tax deductions.

Businesses such as Wal-Mart, Google, and Texas Instruments have recently begun to embrace energy efficiency and conservation.

Wal-Mart implemented a campaign to encourage the use of energy efficient compact light bulbs. The store’s goal is to sell 100 million of the bulbs in 2008. The New York Times reports that this goal, if achieved, would save Americans $3 billion per year in energy costs and eliminate the need to build new power plants for the equivalent of 450,000 new homes.

Texas Instruments, a leading business in the digital signal processing industry, has also taken steps to reduce energy consumption and protect the environment. In 2004, it began the construction of one of the first fully LEED-certified manufacturing facilities. LEED certification is a process conferred by a third party non-profit group indicating that a business has used sustainable building materials. TI also seeks to reduce waste, recycle water, and increase energy efficiency inside the building.

Finally, farming businesses also demonstrate commitment to energy efficiency practices. Farms such as Fair Oaks, a dairy agribusiness located in Indiana, have dedicated much effort to creating an integrated energy system. Fair Oaks uses methane digesters to convert animal waste products into electricity for the farm, and buys distiller’s grain, an ethanol bi-product, to feed its cows. Eventually, the farm plans to build an independent ethanol production facility on its grounds in order to produce the edible cattle feed on-site, while at the same time creating an additional income source that is environmentally sustainable.