Green Networking at GE

April 16, 2008

General Electric enlists an army of partnerships to get green done right.

Although General Electric Co. has its hands in nearly every aspect of the conceive/design/fund/build process, corporate environmental programs project manager Gretchen Hancock says that even a well-diversified manufacturer and financial services firm of GE's industry stature knows it needs assistance from outside experts in determining the most sustainable trail to blaze. Here is her list of some of the crucial partnerships that GE has entered into, and what purposes they serve:

GE is a member of the US Climate Action Partnership, a lobbying group pressuring for tough carbon emissions regulation.

GE uses the World Resources Institute (WRI)/World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) protocol as a guideline for its greenhouse gas inventory process, and regularly liaises with WRI and WBCSD on sustainability issues.

GE is a member of the EPA Climate Leaders program, which encourages a carbon reduction and reporting commitment framework.

GE participates in, and has won numerous awards from, the EPA's Energy Star program.

GE chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt (left) and Jonathan Lash, WRI presidentGE is also working with the EPA's Office of Environmental Innovation, Lean and Environment Initiative, to identify opportunities for lean, green program improvement.

GE has worked with Green Order to provide independent, quantitative environmental analysis and verification of product claims. Other entities with which GE liaises regularly include the Carbon Disclosure Project, WRI Climate Northeast and the Business Round Table Climate Resolve program, all of which provide opportunities for best-practice sharing and discussion.

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