Wal-Mart Canada goes for Green Bullfrog Power
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.21.06
This post is taking forever to write. It is so easy to rail against Wal-Mart and this TreeHugger wouldn't be caught dead in one. On the other hand they keep announcing green initiatives. In Ontario, they have just made a huge purchase of green power from Bullfrog; in the first year alone it will reduce greenhouse emissions by 7,000 tons. “Wal-Mart Canada is demonstrating its leadership through this multi-year purchase of green power,” said Tom Heintzman, President, Bullfrog Power. “By supporting clean, renewable power in Ontario, Wal-Mart is taking meaningful action to reduce its carbon footprint and help combat the environmental and health consequences of air pollution in the province.” We are not going to try and figure out what percentage of Wal-Mart's carbon footprint this is. We are not going to be churlish. We are going to congratulate Wal-Mart, which usually is pretty effective at getting the lowest possible price from its suppliers, for paying a little more for cleaner, greener power. ::Bullfrog Power and ::Wal-Mart PDF Press Release
Even better would be seeing all that roof space put to use like a couple of other Wal-Mart locations that have been posted about. Whether it be a green roof, solar panels, effective use of natural light to reduce electricity used. The actual physical footprint of the building itself has an opportunity cost. Why not use the roof of the building to provide some of the store's own needs. This would be more effective than just buying from green energy providers as a lesser percentage of green energy would be lost to transmission lines.
I share the authors reluctance to congradulate Walmart for anything. However i cant help but critisize- is the goal of this change to help people?
Most of us who read treehugger do it because at some level sustainable living is for ourselves, our family, or our planet.
But if Walmart is doing this because they want to help the environment, and therefore people, then why not start helping people by being a little better with the people they employ either directly or indirectly?
A purchasing giant like Walmart has a great influence on what kind of products the worlds rich (us)buys.
Hard to feel critical about this shift in thier policy because at the end of the day it the results that matter not the motives.
I've been shopping at Wal-Marts for the past 20 years and have known people who have worked at various Wal-Marts throughout this time period. They've always had good things to say about working there. I've been impressed with their efficiency of distribution and, lately, with the design of their newer stores.
That said, this is a good news story.
Ask yourself: Is your local big grocery store chain or discount department store doing the same thing? Thought not...
Walmart is only concerned with its bottom line. It is the nature of capitalism. They have been publicly criticized on several issues in the last few years and customers are questioning the ethics of buying at Walmart.
This move sends a message: you can shop at Walmart and not feel guilty. Save money and "help" the environment at the same time.
Walmart has been a visionary powerhouse (for better or worse). This announcement sends a strong signal to other businesses: Customers care about a business' ecological commitment.
If you own a business, go with the flow. If you can't buy green power, offset your footprint. I have a small business and recently did so with carbonfund.org.
Is this the solution to our environmental problems? Of course not. Is it done more to make a business look good than its environmental commitment? Probably, but right action for the wrong motives is still action in the right direction. Maybe Target will follow next. Let's make this stuff trendy. Isn't that what Treehugger.com's about?
Oh lord no. Walmart producer of tons of plastic junk is not enviro-friendly because it slaps a little smiling green leaf logo on its circulars and announces it loves the enviroment. It is against all the bad publicity it gets for being sexist to its female employees, exploitative to virtually all of its workers (two-thirds of which are eligible for public assistance because the wages are so low), and racist for using sweatshop labor around the world. I'm sure that ten minutes spent investigating the production facilities of virtually all of the factories that make wal-mart junk around the world would convince any treehugger of what is clear as day: that wal-mart will pollute us for their profit and they will make a token gesture "for the environment" for their profit, but that no matter what, they aren't friends of the environment, plants or people. They don't deserve congratulations, no matter how weak.
To all those who are sour on WalMart, I say this reflects more on you negatively and those who would rather crab and complain than about WalMart , good bad or ugly. I suspect the sour grapes/crab apple crowd will never be happy no matter what Wal Mart does. I like a LOT of what WalMart is doing,with heavy consultation from Amory Lovins, of the RMI. No one is forcing Wal Mart to take these positive measures. But they are ALL positive steps forward that directly or indirectly benefit all of us. By all means voice your valid criticisms Instead of crabbing at WalMart why not just....."accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative, and don't mess around with Mr. Inbetween"
...Bing Crosby !