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Located just north of Austin in Round Rock, Texas is Dell Computers massive 2 million square foot headquarters. The company announced they are switching to 100% renewable energy predicting that renewable energy will be cheaper then fossil fuel energy in as soon as 3 years. Dell will be using a mixture of 60% wind energy and 40% energy created from the methane produce at a Waste Management Inc. operated landfill.
Dell has also implemented some energy conservation techniques that should bring power usage down by 5% through the headquarters. The changes made include energy efficient lighting, networking solutions to turn computers off when they’re not in use and more efficient cooling systems. Those changes alone should save Dell some $2 million in energy costs every year.
Dell’s push to go green is part of it’s plan to reduce its impact on the environment by lowering its carbon footprint. Dell offers computer recycling to customers when they buy new products from them. For example when you buy a new computer you can opt to send them your old one to be recycled and keep the nasty heavy metals out of the landfill. Dell is also starting to push "green" laptops and desktops, but I’ll wait until I can test those claims myself before I start to praise them on that.
This push for greener energy at corporations like Dell are very encouraging to me and I’m sure to the power companies who are spending billions of dollars on building wind farms and solar arrays. It’s my hope that as these big corporations find ways to implement eco-friendly utilities and practices into their day to day operations that it will lower the cost and provide a more open market for residents to gain access to these green technologies at an affordable rate.
What other steps do you feel Dell could take to green up their acts?
Source: SmartPower , Austin Statesman
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Jason
April 7th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
That is definitely positive news!
However what I would like to see from not just DELL but any corporation is to cut all the paper ads and hence paper waste. It always blows my mind how much paper is wasted in pamphlets, posters, billboards, signs, etc. I understand for the sake of their business they have to do some advertising but perhaps stick with web and TV ads, and boycott all paper generating ads. It may seem like a small step but can you imagine if other big companies followed in those footsteps too?
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That will be the day when these big corporations all start working towards a cleaner future. I’m hoping it won’t be too far into the future when more corporations see helping the environment or at least lowering their carbon footprint as a corporate responsibility. Small steps are how movements are started and I can’t wait for the corporate greening movement picks up a bit more speed.
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April 7th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
The problem is there are many more “followers” in big business than there are “leaders” …..corporations are about profit dollars (some will still take the plunge are attempt it like dell and walmart) however I hope that this turns out well for Dell and they are setting the standard for the future
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April 8th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I don’t understand why there aren’t more “leaders” in big business when something as important as environmental health issues are constant reminders of why we have to live more eco-consciously. Besides, Dell is sure making themselves look pretty good in the eyes of many consumers by going green.
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Corporations tend to be aimed at profit first, donated and help the community somewhere at the bottom of the list. More and more though younger companies are popping up with community services and a sense of environmental awareness. I think these companies will be the new leaders if today’s leading corporations do not decide to change their ways.
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April 8th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Corporations are liable to the shareholders if they do not maximize profit. This leads to all kinds of unfortunate results. There was a film about it as well.
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