Environmental Leader

In its most recent CSR report, GE shows that it has reduced its operational greenhouse gas intensity 41 percent since 2004, to the point where in 2008 it released 35.58 metric tons of GHG per $1 million in revenue, compared to 60.58 metric tons in 2004. That surpasses a goal set in 2005 to reduce the figure by 30 percent by 2008.

Meanwhile, revenue from sales of GE’s ecomagination products is rising to the tune of 21 percent a year, now reaching $17 billion in sales. The company has boosted its portfolio of ecomagination products and services by one-third, to 80.

Expect more ecomagination products on the horizon, because GE gave a 27 percent boost to its investment in the research and development of clean tech solutions. It spent $1.4 billion on this area in 2008. The company expects to add another $100 million annually by 2010.

Within its own operations, GE  has reduced its absolute GHG emissions 13 percent and improved energy efficiency 37 percent since 2005.

GE achieved lower GHG emissions by migrating to less GHG-intensive fuels, utilizing its own ecomagination technology such as solar panels, advanced lighting products and Jenbacher engines, improving the energy efficiency of its production operations, and integrating GHG as a facility management objective, according to a press release.

GEL also is working to reduce water use and improve water reuse. It aims to reduce water consumption 20 percent by 2012. GE’s water use was flat in 2008.

In the past year, GE has invested heavily in smart grid technology.

The company also made a major investment in developing sodium battery technology.