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Better World August 17, 2010

Herman Miller Helps Prevent Carbon Emissions Equal to Those From About One Million Homes

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Your first reaction to that claim might be, “What? They make furniture.” And you would be right. But we’re committed to reducing our environmental footprint and using renewable energy. In fact, on Earth Day 2010, we announced that we would begin using 100 percent green electrical energy.

But we aren’t alone in preventing those carbon emissions. We are one of 50 organizations, including businesses, cities/municipalities, universities, and nonprofits, recognized by the U.S. EPA as Green Power Partners. That means we’re one of the top purchasers of renewable energy.

According to the EPA, in 2009, the top 50 Green Power Partners used more than 12 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power. This amount was equivalent to having prevented the release of CO2 emissions from the electricity use of more than one million average American homes for one year.

I think it’s safe to say that doubts around the viability of renewable energy are now a thing of the past. And we’re happy to be a part of making that a reality.

Comments (2)

After years of working for unsustainable furniture companies, I am making a turn for the better. I started my own Furniture production in attempts to wrestle with the idea of Green production methods and Sustainable Furniture. I love that big companies like Herman Miller are striving to set a good example by capitalizing on their Green Initiative.

My husband and I are very interested in switching our home electric plan to a green alternative but we’re having trouble finding a plan that isn’t a scam. Lots of residential programs that are advertised as sustainable only buy a fraction of their energy from renewable sources. We did find one company that sells real “green” energy in our area but the business has an F rating with the BBB and has some of the worst customer reviews I’ve ever read.

I’ll be glad when green electricity becomes the norm and it’s easy to find a plan that has a low impact on the environment. For now, we’re doing what we can to make our home as energy efficient as possible in other ways. In the final analysis, it really is manufacturing/production/logistics companies that will make the biggest difference by switching to renewable sources. Like your post says, just 50 companies making this choice is the equivalent of 1 million individual homeowners doing the same thing.

Daisy McCarty
http://www.sandiegocubicles.com/blog/

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