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Apple’s Lisa Jackson talks environmental initiatives: 120 U.S. retail stores powered by renewable energy, 94% renewable across corporate

Lisa-Jackson-Apple

Wired has an interesting profile today on Lisa Jackson, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency who joined Apple in June last year to oversee environmental issues. The publication joined Jackson as she traveled to Apple’s new data center outside of Reno, Nevada, and through the interview offers some interesting insight into what Jackson is trying to accomplish at Apple. The interview with Jackson is landing just as Apple is set to celebrate Earth Day tomorrow and make some new environmental related announcements:

The teams Jackson works with at Apple tackle product related issues such as the materials which make up Apple’s devices (they must require minimal energy to extract, be as recyclable as possible, and be free of conflict minerals); the packaging that strives for the X-ray thin-ness of an iPad side view; and the manufacturing process, where Apple attempts to suppress the wasteful instincts of suppliers and partners in countries like China. Spending a day with Jackson entails considerable discussion of progress the company has made in these domains, as well as an acknowledgement of what needs to be done. (She agrees with Greenpeace that there’s plenty of work to do in China.)

Since last checking in, Jackson said Apple is approaching its goal of powering all its facilities on 100 percent renewable energy. It’s now at 94 percent renewable energy in its data centres and corporate campuses. That’s up from the 75 percent it reported on its renewable energy website just a couple days ago and 35 percent in 2010. Apple’s next goal for renewable energy will be for its retail stores and it’s about to announce it’s already powering 120 of its over 400 stores with renewable energy. All the locations are in the U.S. and include some of its flagship locations like the Fifth Avenue store and Palo Alto. 

The next step is to extend the efforts to its retail stores…In this accounting, Apple does not include the manufacturing, transport, and use of its actual products, which accounts for 98 percent of its carbon footprint. Still, its accomplishment on facilities, particularly data centers, is significant… Apple is announcing that more than 120 of its American stores are powered solely by renewables, including flagship sites like Palo Alto, Chicago’s North Michigan Ave, and New York’s Fifth Avenue.

The full piece is an interesting read on Apple’s new head of environmental initiatives and includes more on Jackson’s first day (and traditional lunch with Tim Cook), Apple’s new and upcoming efforts at its data center and solar operations, and much more. Apple looks to be updating its Renewable Energy page with the new stats as we speak and just launched a new Environmental website with updated stats, videos of its data centers and new campus, and a letter from Lisa Jackson on Apple’s environmental initiatives.

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Comments

  1. Robert Hildenbrand - 10 years ago

    After their iOS 7 graphic interface nightmare (I can’t stand it), if there was a reason to support apple, this would be it.

  2. Pierre Calixte - 10 years ago

    global warming is indeed real but lets not forget that going to renewable energy is not only good for the environment but its also good for the bottom line.

    I’m not saying it’s a bad thing but as energy costs rise, a move like this by apple is also about saving money and increasing profits.

  3. Tom Mansu - 10 years ago

    This lady is a criminal and a crony.

  4. Dave Schock - 8 years ago

    Dear Lisa Jackson and Apple, I agree with the many scientists and individuals who feel increased EMF and RF exposure in the human environment is a leading environmental of our time. Is Apple engaged in plans to reduce or alter the exposure to rf and emf fields that it’s products are creating for billions? I personally have had my entire life altered by overexposure to cell phones, computer monitors etc–and can no longer use them. The science is controversial, but many sincere scientists feel there is severe threat. Is Apple (and the epa for that matter) listening? It seem a lot more important than if you are recycling your plastic–and as I say, I have only gotten interested in this when my health profoundly declined, and the culprit, I am 99% certain, was over-exposure to emf and rf fields–I knew nothing about this or cared about it before, but have my own experience as proof for me, and the studies of many who have looked into the same–please consider taking a longer look at this—the rf fields could be broadcast at frequencies healthy to humans, the emf exposure for Apple customers could probably be hugely reduced if it was a company goal—while so many see the new tech revolution as a blessing, I can also see it as the poisoning of humanity–I cannot hold an ipad for more that a few seconds before my hands are in serious pain–and look at children all over the world playing with them-and shudder. Despite the highly controversial nature of “electrosensitivity”, the risk of emf exposure is well documented, and made the White House list for top ten cancer causing agents (as I am sure you know)–now you are head of this at the #1 polluter of the most dangerous new toxin in the environment (many incl me feel)–what are you thoughts?? -thank YOU for listening

    these are links to things you may be aware of–from a distance it is easy to discuss the science (as it stands now, often to be changed in the future)–but for me these links confirm my experience, which occurred before I found them–one man’s testimonial–

    http://www.bioinitiative.org/conclusions/
    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/20/radiation-from-cell-phones-and-wifi-are-making-people-sick–are-you-at-risk.aspx

    http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/science/studies.asp
    http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/05/cellphone-emf-wifi-health-risks-scientists-letter

    http://www.robindestoits.org/Wifi-EMFs-Electrosensitivity-ES-EHS-physiologically-explained-at-last-15-03-2012_a1661.html
    http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/scalar_tech/esp_scalartech42.htm235

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.