12 replies to this topic

[Hardison]

The Solar Energy Industries Assoc and Vote Solar released a report listing the top 20 businesses that have installed the most solar on their facilities. I was pretty surprised by some companies on the list. There are a few companies I have never heard of like White Rose Foods.b

Here's the list:

• Wal-Mart
  
• Costco
  
• Kohl’s Department Stores
  
• IKEA
  
• Macy’s
  
• McGraw-Hill
  
• Johnson & Johnson
  
• Staples, Inc.
  
• Campbell’s Soup
  
• Walgreens
  
• Bed, Bath & Beyond
  
• Toys ‘R’ Us
  
• General Motors
  
• FedEx
  
• White Rose Foods
  
• Dow Jones
  
• Snyder’s of Hanover
  
• ProLogis
  
• Hartz Mountain Industries
  
• Crayola

Top 20 Solar Businesses

[Shortpoet-GTD]

wal-mart's solar is lipstick on a pig, imo. Their other practices don't jive with an eco mindset. And ikea uses
old growth trees for their furniture, so no kudos to them either.

I'll add my vitamin guy, Andrew Lessmen and his Pro Cap labs in Nevada. The entire facility, including the
covered parking spaces for employees is covered in solar panels. All lights on the property are L.E.D.'s too.

[Hardison]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 18 September 2012 - 03:30 AM, said:

wal-mart's solar is lipstick on a pig, imo.

[IMG]http://i520.photobuc.../pig_budget.jpg[/img]

Quote

Their other practices don't jive with an eco mindset. And ikea uses
old growth trees for their furniture, so no kudos to them either.

I agree. For Walmart and IKEA, it's probably a cost reduction strategy. I'm surprised my some of the other companies too especially Campbell's Soup.

Edit: I can't get my pig to show up.

[FamilyTreeClimber]

I still applaud any company that does these things regardless of their other failings.  No doubt in cases like Walmart they have found a way to make money off of going green.

It's interesting to see Crayola on the list.  Months ago, I posted how there was a campaign to make their markers recyclable.  Even though they have not solved that problem, I have read that they are one of the more environmentally conscience companies out there.

Well, the more companies that go solar the better it is.  I wonder if these companies are selling back to the grid?

[StevesWeb]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 18 September 2012 - 03:30 AM, said:

wal-mart's solar is lipstick on a pig, imo. Their other practices don't jive with an eco mindset.

Wal*Mart is certainly no friend to the environment, but they are the single largest corporate producer of solar power in the country.  They may be doing it for economic reasons, but at least they are making electricity in a clean way.  I share your disdain for them as a company, but when they do the right thing, for whatever reason, it is still a good thing.

There is a Sam's Club less than a mile from us, and because of the lay of the land we can see the roof of the building.  It must have several hundred solar panels.  It annoys me that they have more panels than we do :-)

[Shortpoet-GTD]

It could be that they installed the solar panels to "look good" to unaware environmentalists that might say-
"Isn't that great?" but when they turn around and take the money they saved on their electric bills and donate
those funds to the likes of romney and other republican super pacs that are anti-environment; it means squat.

Walton's heirs donate millions to republicans and their "I like coal" mindset bs.
http://walmart1perce...-our-democracy/

[steph84]

I agree that Walmart probably paid off a few people to get put onto that list. They are trying to do anything to make them seem like a nice company so they can brush their other bad policies under the rug. They treat their employees like dirt.

[StevesWeb]

steph84, on 14 October 2012 - 11:57 PM, said:

I agree that Walmart probably paid off a few people to get put onto that list. They are trying to do anything to make them seem like a nice company so they can brush their other bad policies under the rug. They treat their employees like dirt.

The approximately 200 solar panels I can see on the roof of our local Sam's Club appear to be real to me.  I don't imagine they were installed only to look good, I'm guessing they also produce electricity during the day.

I don't like the Walton family heirs and I don't like Wal*Mart but when they do something that is good it is still a good thing.

[r. zimm]

I doubt any company would waste money on fake solar panels. Somehow the word would get out that they are fake and they would get loads of negative press. Walmart is a very big company and anything they can do to save money in the long run, they will do. They have the clout to buy anything they need at the lowest price as well.

One thing you have to remember is that even if a company like Walmart is doing this for purely economic reasons, they are increasing the use of solar panels and that will save people like us money from the increased production and improvements.

[FamilyTreeClimber]

I don't buy it that businesses are putting up fake solar panels.  To what end?  It's about saving money.  If Walmart or any company can put up solar panels, sell back the grid, and cut their electricity bill, that's just good business.  Environmental reasons aren't the only motivation for doing green things.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

I don't know how we get derailed to "fake" panels. They're not fake, but with all their other issues, it's hard to
give them high fives-that's all.

But installing panels is a good thing.

[r. zimm]

I think it cam from StevesWeb post saying,

"The approximately 200 solar panels I can see on the roof of our local Sam's Club appear to be real to me. I don't imagine they were installed only to look good, I'm guessing they also produce electricity during the day."

I was just posting off of the general idea that a large company might do that. Sorry for the confusion (if any).

I think the important point is that for whatever reason a company like WalMart does install solar panels at their locations, it is to everyone's benefit.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Volkswagen may not be in the top 20, but they are using solar for their plants in Tennessee and Germany.
Their building in the states is certified LEED, and their recycling efforts are to be applauded as well.  
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