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Dell Reaches Carbon Neutral Goal |
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Dell Computer announced this week that it has met its goal ahead of schedule of becoming a carbon neutral company.
The computer manufacturer announced in September of 2007 that it would undertake a variety of initiatives to achieve a carbon neutral goal by the end of 2008. Chairman and founder Michael Dell said this week the company reached that milestone five months ahead of schedule.
“We’re driving ‘green’ into every aspect of our global business,” Dell declared, adding that the company is saving more than $3 million annually and eliminating nearly 20,000 tons of CO2 through facilities improvements and a global power-management initiative.
Since 2004 the company has invested in green electricity from utility providers, including wind, solar and methane-gas capture. Electricity supplied by green sources has grown from 12 million kWh in 2004 to 116 million kWh. It is continuing to invest in wind power in the U.S., China and India, with the end goal of producing 645 million kWh from green sources. Earlier this year, the company announced that its headquarters in Round Rock, Texas is 100% powered by green energy.
A lot of companies are talking these days about their green initiatives, and while it is easy to poke holes in their plans and question the economic value, Dell deserves credit for setting a lofty goal and seeing it through.
One important thing to note is the company didn’t achieve its goal just by purchasing green power – it went after efficiency measures in its own operations first.
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