Part of the coalition’s mission reminds us that America has a can-do attitude. Major companies like Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY), Ikea, Seventh Generation, Patagonia, Annie’s, and many others have signed on.
Indeed, many companies are voluntarily doing their part in reducing waste, pollution, and reliance on fossil fuels.
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has long made aggressive reduction of its environmental impact part of its corporate DNA. Its “Big Picture” page illustrates a dizzying array of ways Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has reduced its carbon footprint since 2007. Efficiency initiatives, green energy purchase, and carbon offsets take its footprint down to zero. In addition, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) funds plenty of alternative energy initiatives; in late 2012, it invested $200 million in a Texas wind farm, and in 2011, it invested $280 million in a fund that helped now-public Solar City finance more solar installations in America, focusing on the residential and business markets.
Speaking of SolarCity, its CEO, Lyndon Rive, recently vowed that the energy storage issue — a major problem for solar — will be solved within the next 10 years. It’s planning 100 energy storage systems for some customers this year, to be provided by Chairman Elon Musk’s electric car concern Tesla Motors.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) often gets flak on some issues, but it’s not standing still when it comes to renewable energy. Amazing photos have surfaced of its massive solar array to power data centers in North Carolina, touted as the world’s largest private solar array. The company says that it has increased its use of renewable energy by 114% in the 2010-2012 time frame.
Cut the costs of apathy
Weather-related disasters, reliance on volatile fossil fuels, and other negative outcomes all squander billions in taxpayer funds. Those who ignore how businesses must evolve when landscapes change will have some jarring wake-up calls on the horizon in coming storms, fires, and droughts: ruined investments, companies that can’t do business as they used to, and economies laid to waste.
Taxes are often taxing, but when they’re squandered on avoidable messes, it’s an insult to Americans’ hard-earned money. Action now reduces costs later — for everyone.
An apple a day?
There’s no doubt that Apple is at the center of technology’s largest revolution ever, and that longtime shareholders have been handsomely rewarded with over 1,000% gains. However, there is a debate raging as to whether Apple remains a buy. The Motley Fool’s senior technology analyst and managing bureau chief, Eric Bleeker, is prepared to fill you in on both reasons to buy and reasons to sell Apple, and what opportunities are left for the company (and your portfolio) going forward.
The article An Avoidable Corporate Cost That Squanders Your Tax Dollars originally appeared on Fool.com.
Alyce Lomax owns shares of Starbucks. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, eBay, Google, and Starbucks. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, eBay, Google, and Starbucks.
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