Sourcing Renewables | Page 266

Google has made $2.5 billion in equity commitments for renewable energy projects worldwide, according to its 2016 environmental report, which also put numbers on efforts to make its data centers as energy efficient as possible.

As Wal-Mart Stores Inc. ventures farther down its somewhat long and winding road to 100% renewable energy, advancements in technologies such as energy storage and in the way it works with its utilities are accelerating its journey.

This white paper describes Google's path to achieving 100% renewable energy, discusses lessons learned and details the role of energy efficiency in getting there. It also outlines how the company will continue our efforts to accelerate the global transition to clean energy.

Through increasing its use of renewable energy and energy efficiency, apparel and footwear company VF Corp. has reduced its global carbon emissions 12% while adding 500 sites to its global operations between 2011 and 2015.

Continuing its push into the renewable energy industry, Apple Inc. will acquire a 30% stake in four wind projects from China's largest wind manufactuer.

Whirlpool broke ground on a project to build three wind turbines that will help power its Marion, Ohio, manufacturing facility.

About 30% of the total amount of distributed solar capacity in the U.S. is owned by private companies, according to data from the U.S. EIA.

Among IKEA's strategies to make its buildings more energy efficient are five U.S. fuel cell pilot programs that are expected to yield more than $1.3 million in savings each year.

The U.S. electric power industry, helped by large commercial and industrial energy users, has been investing in renewable resources well beyond states' renewable portfolio standards and targets, according to a new presentation from economists at The Brattle Group.