Google`s Environmental Endeavors - Conclusion
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Included among the companies investing in clean energy solutions are Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard, and Wal-Mart. Could they all be that interested in the environment, or are they, along with Google, just trying to boost their image? After all, Wal-mart, just to give an example, has had their fair share of controversy regarding worker's rights, so jumping on the global warming bandwagon would be a nice way to clean up their reputation.
One of the controversial aspects of going green, specifically carbon-neutral, is purchasing “carbon offsets,” which involves paying others to plant trees to absorb the carbon dioxide that you, as a company, will be emitting. And Google's founders admitted doing this when they were confronted with using a private Boeing 767. Add this to all of the other financial benefits they stand to gain and all of a sudden Google looks kind of sinister.
The fact of the matter is that Google wouldn't do anything if it didn't benefit them in some way. Even Google.org, the philanthropic branch of the company through which these projects are run, is for-profit. So it's nice that they're doing anything at all, because they're certainly not obligated. Ron Pernick, co-founder of the energy research company Clean Edge, has said that venture capital investment from private companies in the U.S. into clean energy was $2.4 billion. Regarding Google's investment he says, “What they did today was to put a stake in the ground saying, 'Let's get renewable energy to be cost-competitive with coal.' That's the differentiator that shows vision and commitment.” At least Google has some regard for what kind of impact their company has and aren't all about the dollar.
Personally, I think Google will be just as happy with the awareness they raise and even happier if they can somehow mitigate greenhouse gas emissions just one iota. Think about it. If you had money to spend, would you think of spending it altruistically or on yourself?
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