Going green: Disney's new 'green' initiative

Disney has announced the results of it's ongoing project to be a more "green" company. This initiative called for the installation of solar panels, energy saving lighting, and more natural forms of heating for Disney facilities across the globe.

"The approach to this goal follows the hierarchy of avoiding emissions, reducing emissions through efficiency, replacing high-carbon fuels with low-carbon alternatives, and then using high-quality offsets for what is left."

As a result of Disney's "Strive for Five" program, the company was awarded the second annual Florida Energy Achievement Award from the University of Central Florida's Florida Solar Energy Center. This program put in place directives that educate employees on energy saving tactics, carpooling measures, and other energy saving measures.

From Disney's Climate and Energy page:

In 2007, the company embarked on the first companywide GHG emissions inventory, making calendar year 2006 our first full year of measurement. Given the complex and dynamic structure of the company's activities, it was important to approach the inventory in a clearly defined and systematic manner and in accordance with principles outlined in the World Resource Institute's GHG Protocol. Based on research, we first captured data from facilities.

Disney facilities include our parks and resorts, owned and leased office spaces, cruise ships, retail outlets, restaurants and radio and TV stations. Sources of direct emissions at facilities include boilers, generators, vehicular activity in and around assets, cruise ship engine activity and refrigeration systems. Electricity consumption at facilities results in indirect greenhouse gas emissions. (See table below for calendar year 2006 emissions and electricity consumption data.) The values have been confirmed through an internal validation process, and data gaps have been identified. These gaps will be closed as Disney continues to refine the annual inventory process

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Achieving zero net direct GHG emissions depends on the ability to reduce or eliminate consumption of carbon-based fuels such as natural gas, gasoline and diesel, and acquire or generate carbon offsets from projects. Alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, are currently available, but only in limited quantities and for limited applications. In the case of carbon offsets, there is no formal, governmental oversight or regulation of such efforts in the United States. Therefore, caution is required to choose credible partners to generate carbon offsets. Transparency and completeness in reporting are critical, as well as due diligence in selecting carbon offset programs.

Each of the measures needed to meet the electricity targets has its own set of challenges. In the case of improved asset efficiency, an integrated approach toward design will require additional financing. In the case of clean electricity generation, we must identify opportunities for self-generation at a larger scale than anything that Disney has attempted thus far. Finally, procuring clean electricity will be a challenge, especially in light of increased competition for such resources.

Click through to Disney's Climate and Energy page to view a video.