Apple now runs on 100 percent renewable energy
Making good on investments into clean energy, Apple on Monday announced its entire global operation, from offices to retail stores, is powered by renewable resources.
Apple has had a complicated relationship with environmentalism and green energy. For a few years now, the company has made promises to shift entirely to renewable energy. In the fall of 2016, the company joined a global initiative called RE100, claiming a goal of 100 percent renewable energy. That proclamation followed a 2015 deal that made Apple the largest corporate user of renewable power in the U.S.
Now, according to a company press release as well as an in-depth feature from Fast Company, Apple's facilities run entirely on green power. This includes data centers, the new Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, retail stores and other facilities spread across 43 countries.
The 100 percent figure, however, only applies to Apple's own facilities, and not to its various partners in manufacturing and other operations. But Apple has also convinced a total of 23 companies -- including nine new ones -- in its supply chain to make a 100 percent energy pledge.
The achievement was accomplished in part by Apple investments into solar and wind farms near many of its data centers, as well as large solar installations atop Apple buildings like those at its Apple Park headquarters. In total, Apple has 25 renewable energy projects around the world pumping out 626 megawatts of generation capacity. The company is working to bring 15 more projects online in 11 countries, collectively capable of producing a collective 1.4 gigawatts of clean renewable energy.
"We're committed to leaving the world better than we found it. After years of hard work we're proud to have reached this significant milestone," CEO Tim Cook said in a statement. "We're going to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the materials in our products, the way we recycle them, our facilities and our work with suppliers to establish new creative and forward-looking sources of renewable energy because we know the future depends on it."
That began to change in 2007, when Steve Jobs released an open letter called "A Greener Apple," with a series of plans related to removing mercury from the company's products, as well as ramping up recycling programs.
The company has accelerated those efforts under Cook. Apple has continued to push the button on green energy and assembly. The company hired Lisa Jackson, the former EPA administrator in the Obama Administration, as its vice president for sustainability and government affairs, and early last year it led the rankings in Greenpeace's Clean Energy Index. In mid-2017, it issued a $1 billion bond to finance green energy products.
Apple has had a complicated relationship with environmentalism and green energy. For a few years now, the company has made promises to shift entirely to renewable energy. In the fall of 2016, the company joined a global initiative called RE100, claiming a goal of 100 percent renewable energy. That proclamation followed a 2015 deal that made Apple the largest corporate user of renewable power in the U.S.
Now, according to a company press release as well as an in-depth feature from Fast Company, Apple's facilities run entirely on green power. This includes data centers, the new Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, retail stores and other facilities spread across 43 countries.
The 100 percent figure, however, only applies to Apple's own facilities, and not to its various partners in manufacturing and other operations. But Apple has also convinced a total of 23 companies -- including nine new ones -- in its supply chain to make a 100 percent energy pledge.
The achievement was accomplished in part by Apple investments into solar and wind farms near many of its data centers, as well as large solar installations atop Apple buildings like those at its Apple Park headquarters. In total, Apple has 25 renewable energy projects around the world pumping out 626 megawatts of generation capacity. The company is working to bring 15 more projects online in 11 countries, collectively capable of producing a collective 1.4 gigawatts of clean renewable energy.
"We're committed to leaving the world better than we found it. After years of hard work we're proud to have reached this significant milestone," CEO Tim Cook said in a statement. "We're going to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the materials in our products, the way we recycle them, our facilities and our work with suppliers to establish new creative and forward-looking sources of renewable energy because we know the future depends on it."
A long, green march
Despite running a very public environmental responsibility campaign that includes regular progress reports, ads and mentions in product presentations, Apple would find itself running afoul of activists. Greenpeace, for example, would often rank the company near the bottom of its list of the greenest companies in the consumer electronics space.That began to change in 2007, when Steve Jobs released an open letter called "A Greener Apple," with a series of plans related to removing mercury from the company's products, as well as ramping up recycling programs.
The company has accelerated those efforts under Cook. Apple has continued to push the button on green energy and assembly. The company hired Lisa Jackson, the former EPA administrator in the Obama Administration, as its vice president for sustainability and government affairs, and early last year it led the rankings in Greenpeace's Clean Energy Index. In mid-2017, it issued a $1 billion bond to finance green energy products.
Comments
Well, neither will humans or Apple or our sun no matter how much "renewable energy" we use.
How much CO2 was produced and will continue to be produced to manufacture and maintain those solar panels, batteries, fuel cells, wind-powered generators? Mmmhmm. Exactly.
It's a nice PR move.
2) Are you saying that because nothing lasts forever that we should do nothing to try to make Earth as hospitable for future generations as long as possible?
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/11/141111-solar-panel-manufacturing-sustainability-ranking/
...is it a long road still ahead, and a future we ultimately really want...?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9L0pord5jE
Apple has a fantastic green program that includes a few things not mentioned in the article. Apple's products usually use less electricity than the competition. Their packaging is ridiculously minimal. Their gift cards are plant-based, not plastic.
The amount of limited resources consumed to allow for the collection of, a more or less, infinite source of power, while not neglible, is clearly the most prudent use for said resources as it produces more than it consumes.
Is it a fair assumption you hail from generations of coal miners who refused to move on/relocate when the modern world rendered them obsolete.
As for Apple this is fantastic news. It is quite impressive given their size and geographic footprint. I’m curious how many other companies have achieved this.
I have not heard how much renwable they are using...
they must be doing power wheeling on other stores where in not enough roof top can be fitted w solar panels...
PR or not, great job for Apple
🙄