Latest News & Content

Apr 15, 2011 9:55 AM ET - Xcel Energy Blog If you had proof that you use more energy than 78% of your neighbors, would you take steps to cut back? ...

Apr 14, 2011 10:00 AM ET - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award to GE Appliances & Lighting. GE has over 750 ENERGY STAR-qualified lighting and appliance products that help consumers decrease their energy usage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, GE launched 131 new ENERGY STAR appliances, including the first electric water heater to be ENERGY STAR rated: the GeoSpring hybrid water heater. EPA introduced the ENERGY STAR award in 1992 as a voluntary association between companies and the EPA that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants associated with energy use by providing more energy efficient alternatives for consumers.  

Apr 13, 2011 5:00 PM ET - General Electric announced plans to build the nation’s biggest solar panel factory, though it has not yet decided the location.  The move continues GE's expanding energy-focused work, particularly through acquisitions. The solar photovoltaic market is growing, driven in part by the U.S. government offering financial support to help American solar panel makers -- including loan guarantees for new factories -- to increase the amount of solar panel manufacturing.  Victor Abate, who is responsible for the solar, wind, and renewable energy units at GE, stated that the deciding factor to build the solar panel factory was enhancing the effectiveness of cadmium telluride-based thin film panels to a record 12.8 percent, which is also a factor in reducing costs. These articles discuss the project in more depth and touch on the ecological improvements this venture will bring, as well as the social advantage: the creation of more than 400 jobs within the plant.  

Apr 13, 2011 4:00 PM ET - 400 million metric tons of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere every year due to the burning of gas produced during oil drilling. New findings by GE show that nearly $20 billion in wasted natural gas could be used to generate reliable, affordable electricity and yield billions of dollars per year in increased global economic output. This GreenBiz article discusses the report by GE, referencing how the gas emissions vary depending on region and what objectives need to be set to resolve the issue.

Apr 12, 2011 5:00 PM ET - With the lack of progress of a comprehensive federal renewable energy policy at the U.S. Capitol, it was heartening to hear about real progress being made in Europe during my recent trip to Brussels at the end of March. The European Union (E.U.) has adopted aggressive climate and energy goals—the “20-20-20” targets that aim to derive 20% of EU energy consumption from renewable resources by 2020. But the EU is struggling with developing an effective voluntary market for renewable energy to complement these government efforts, and without this market, may not make its goal.

Apr 11, 2011 12:15 PM ET - President Obama came to UPS's Landover, Maryland, facility to announce the National Clean Fleets Partnership, of which UPS is a charter member.

Apr 10, 2011 8:00 AM ET - Carnival Corporation & plc publishes its Corporate-level Sustainability Reports in accordance with the the ...

Apr 6, 2011 10:00 AM ET - Center for Resource Solutions and the Energy Foundation's China Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP) is addressing the biggest challenges to wind integration in China, including revising grid codes, improving wind forecasting, increasing the size of balancing areas, and improving Grid and Generator Flexibility in dealing with intermittent sources.  

Mar 30, 2011 1:50 PM ET - (3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Washington, D.C. - March 30, 2011 - As the U.S ramps up vehicle fuel efficiency standards, two new reports from Citi Investment Research, Ceres and longtime independent industry experts conclude that U.S....

Mar 29, 2011 7:32 AM ET - (3BL Media / theCSRfeed) March 29, 2011 - Xcel Energy will discount more than 2.4 million compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs for Colorado, Minnesota and New Mexico residential electricity customers in 2011. Xcel Energy aims to help customers...

Mar 25, 2011 2:00 PM ET - GE recently appointed Jay Ireland CEO and president of GE Africa to carry out the GE business goal of providing cleaner water and energy efficiency, as well as improved healthcare. GE looks to work alongside the governments and other organizations in Africa to improve quality of life throughout the continent.