Wal-Mart (WMT), long regarded as an environmental offender, began reaching out to environmental groups for help in becoming a leader
on issues like fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.
Choosing the most sensible vehicle to begin this offensive, the giant discount retailer is determined to reach 200 million shoppers with their campaign to save energy with compact fluorescent lamps.
According to the NYTimes.com, a compact fluorescent, which has languished on shelves for a quarter of a century, has clear advantages over the widely used incandescent light — it uses 75 percent less electricity, lasts 10 times longer, produces 450 pounds fewer greenhouse gases from power plants and saves consumers $30 over the life of each bulb. But it is eight times as expensive as a traditional bulb, gives off a harsher light and has a peculiar appearance.
Wal-Mart hopes to overcome the unpopularity of the lamps and is even reaching out to unlikely partners to help in this campaign. Google (GOOG), Home Depot (HD) and even Hollywood have been approached to help turn the tide of resistance that has been met from light-b
ulb makers, competitors, and consumers.
Wal-Mart's chief executive, H. Lee Scott Jr., not only is committed to reduce energy use across the country, but hopes the move will improve the retail giant's appeal to more affluent consumers, which the chain must win over to keep growing in the United States. He began reaching out to environmental groups over a year ago to see what could be done about issues that faced our nation and the world.
To get a more in depth picture of the steps that have been made to reach the goal of selling 100 million bulbs this year read the full NYTimes.com article.
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