IBM Reports 4% Energy Savings, Net CO2 Emissions Up 5%

November 13, 2008

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IBM released its 2007-2008 Corporate Responsibility Report (PDF) and reported that it exceeded its corporate goal of 3.5 percent energy saving and cut 3.8 percent of its total energy use. However, IBM reported a 5 percent increase in its net CO2 emissions due to business growth.

IBM’s conservation projects cut electricity use by almost 180 kilowatt hours, reduced 2.7 million gallons of fuel and avoided 111,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions, as well as saving the company $19.3 million in energy costs.

In 2007, IBM increased its total purchase of renewable energy to 455,000 megawatt hours, representing 8.5 percent of its worldwide electrical usage – up from 7.3 percent in 2006. IBM’s renewable energy purchase helped the company avoid releasing 232,000 metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

The company reported that last year almost 11 percent of the total plastic IBM procured for use in its products was from recycled content, exceeding the company’s goal of 5 percent or more. In addition, the company says water initiatives in its microelectronics operations achieved a 4 percent savings rate, translating to a savings of 1.6 million cubic meters of water.

As a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange, the company reduced its scope one and two GHG emissions from the company’s operations in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. by almost 17 percent by the end of 2007; exceeding the company’s commitment of a 4.25 percent reduction.

The company has launched a host of green consulting services such as “Green Sigma” consulting service, “Cradle to Grave” environmental consulting, as well as a consulting service to help clients assess their CSR reporting and other CSR-related activities.