In the current web based world, everybody knows the names of the leaders in the field of technology. A lot of us own Apple iPhones and almost all of us certainly use Google to look for things we would like to find online. For all of the truly amazing impact these businesses make by making our everyday life richer and also easier, how are they doing with regards to staying ‘green’ so we can all have a richer future? We will have a peek at how they rate at this time.
Many of us have heard about how Apple has caught a little bit of flack over the past few years for the conditions of workers in overseas factories that critics declare are working in dreadful conditions. In countries that do very little to demand standards of living for their work forces, it might be tough to see the photos. While an iPhone is really something of a status symbol in the U.S., if Apple is not careful they will wind up looking more rotten than enticing. Take, for example, a current blog post from the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/greenpeace-gives-apple-low-marks-on-green-tech/2011/04/21/AFWWPwOE_blog.html), Greenpeace attacked Apple about something we might not have predicted: the amount of energy its North Carolina based data center consumes. This may feel like small potatoes, yet to Greenpeace this sort of careless energy use is definitely not a positive thing. Facebook, Amazon and Twitter have scored much higher, indicating that not all technology companies are doing things poorly.
Several companies are now taking extremely aggressive steps to boost wiser energy use. Google has decided that wind power is beneficial to the world and its own bottom line, too. A write-up in the Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/18/google-wind-farm-investment-oregon_n_850707.html) showed that Google is buying yet another wind farm and this time laying out $100 million to develop its ability to power ‘the cloud’ with wind, so to speak. By making this move, Google cultivates its dedication to a better world in the public eye.
Obviously, there are many, many smaller tech firms and even those of us who just use their services, that want to also make a difference. Having alternatives like a green bag and custom recycled shopping bags, for instance, you can do just that. We could take that much trash away by just never using the plastic bags that cause so much harm as they pile up. We can also, if we have our own company, use seed paper for our stationary and let our letters grow into new green life. We actually do have many options for taking part in growing a better future.
So while Google and Apple each have the opportunity to make huge impacts – for better or for worse – all of us play a role. It is our world and regardless of whether we own a company or simply work for one, there is definitely always something we can all do.
Dean Prater is an immensely accomplished writer talking about eco and reusing topics also extending the practices to firms to utilize eco friendly custom bags to market both their business and recognition for our world.
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