Energy produced by a source different from mainstream ones; a source of energy that comes from ancient plant or animal remains in the earth; a trial activity; energy produced by a source that never runs out; to arrive at the starting point again; chancy and potentially controversial; having no cost; a motive, a reason to do something; a project or plan with no hope of success; being planned or in the process of development; a deceptive act or plan; to reduce or lessen something; trying repeatedly for success; someone who looks for energy sources in untried areas.
Explain the meaning of the following phrases.
Wean America from; harness an energy supply; spurred by; propel the dream into reality; to have the stigma; a monument to a lost cause; to become the nursery for advanced technology; to carry the burden of past failures; to make the necessary commitment.
Answer the following questions.
1. How much of the energy needed in the United States can windmills provide today? How much could they provide in thirty years?
2. Why were the windmills of the early 1900s replaced?
3. What problems did the windmills of the 1980s have?
4. What features do 1990s models have to correct these problems?
Comment on the title of the article summarizing the information provided by the writer.
5. For Discussion
- Do you think that governments should give companies financial incentives for developing alternative energy sources? Why or why not?
- What problems do windmills have that still need to be solved?
- Do you think that windmills are worth developing in our country notable for its oil and gas resources? Why or why not?
- What are the sources of energy that are used today or that could be developed. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each one.
■ 3.6 E. Environmental Responsibility and Consumer Protection
By Joseph T.Straub and Raymond F.Attner
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Environmental preservation, maintenance, and restoration must rank high on any corporation's list of social concerns. The advent of synthetic chemical compounds and materials and of exotic manufacturing processes means that the environment has become polluted. Actions have to be taken to eliminate the causes, and firms that are responsible must be held accountable. With this realization, there has been much environmental progress. Since Earth Day 1970, when Americans first began to "think green":
• Miles of polluted rivers and streams have been brought back to life.
• The number of cities with adequate sewage treatment plants has more than doubled.
• The pumping of sewage sludge into the ocean has ceased.
• Major air pollutants have been considerably reduced.
The business sector must continue its commitment. There are still problems in the areas of hazardous and solid waste and environmental maintenance.
Hazardous Wastes
The problem with hazardous wastes— waste materials containing toxic substances— is one common to land, water, and air pollution. According to recent estimates, industrial operations produce more than 50 million tons of hazardous waste each year, an average of 14.2 tons for each square mile of land mass in the forty-eight contiguous states. While generating products that benefit consumers in various ways, many manufacturing processes produce toxic chemical waste faster than it can be disposed of. Farsighted business leaders see this situation and give more than lip service to environmental concerns.
Recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency show that the toxic releases of U.S. manufacturers are falling. What's more, chemical makers that pump out the largest share of these poisons cut their emissions by 35 percent between 1987 and 1992.
One factor that has led to this decrease is the chemical industry's voluntary program to reduce toxic air pollutants below the standards set by the 1990 Clean Air Act. Nine of the nation's biggest polluters, including Du Pont and Monsanto, signed on with the understanding that they could use the technology of their choice. At the same time, the Chemical Manufacturer's Association committed to pollution control. The results speak for themselves.
Solid Wastes
Besides hazardous waste, there is the basic problem of solid waste generated through packaging, bottling, and product construction. Experience and mistakes with waste disposal over the last three decades have shown that waste cannot be simply thrown away. About 64 percent of the country's growing mountain of waste is paper and paperboard, metals, glass, and plastics.
In response to difficulties with solid waste disposal, organizations have attempted to provide alternative packaging that can help in the decomposition of products. Another area of emphasis has been to limit the manufacturing of new products by recycling, the practice of reclaiming or producing materials from previously manufactured products and using them to make other items. At the present time only 11 percent of solid waste is recycled.
Recycling opportunities exist in all areas of a business. Instead of discarding its cocoa-bean hulls, Hershey Foods Corporation reportedly grinds them up and sells them as garden mulch. Fiberboard and pressboard made from sawdust and wood chips enable economy-minded forest products firms to convert virtually every splinter of a tree into a salable product. In some manufacturing plants, heat from production processes is cycled through the heating system to heat the building. The Adolph Coors brewery once generated most of its needed electricity from recycled waste materials. The cumulative effects of recycling are impressive:
• Mississippi River water is used at least eight times on its journey to the Gulf of Mexico.
• Forty percent of all new copper is made from recycled copper.
• Twenty percent of the glass we use comes from recycled scraps and shards that are melted down and mixed with new material.
Organizations that have committed to recycling are varied:
• Gardner's Supply, a mail order company in Burlington, Vermont, committed to a program that composts grass clippings and leaves for free in the local area. The program has been so successful that it collects 3,000 to 4,000 tons per year.
• Yakima Products, Inc., a car-rack maker in Arcata, California, was unable to avoid using plastic and foam in packing its high-end roof-rack systems. The company created a way for customers to easily mail the packaging materials back—free. It then reuses the foam and polyethylene-shell portions of the container and recycles the outer chipboard.
• The Boston Park Plaza Hotel has become immersed in recycling. Wooden pallets on which food is delivered to the hotel—up to 100 each week—are now returned to the vender and reused. The housekeeping staff makes chefs' aprons from damaged tablecloths. And, guests' returnable bottles are recycled—resulting in the purchase of several new vacuums.
Environmental Maintenance
In addition to solid waste problems, industry has another major social concern: overall environmental maintenance of water, air, and land. Business has begun to address this area. For example:
• E&J Gallo Winery gave $250,000 to the American Forestry Association's Global Relief Program, whose goal is to plant 100 million trees in the United States to counteract the greenhouse effect.
• Apple Computer donated $40,000 worth of computer equipment to Earth Day 1990.
• Timberland Shoes gave $250,000 to the Wilderness Society to assist in accomplishing its goals.
• Du Pont voluntarily spends $50 million each year on environmental projects beyond what the law requires, such as the $15 million it spent at a Texas plant to reduce the risk of dangerous gases being released.
ENERGY PROGRAMS
Companies have approached the energy situation from two directions: internal consumption efficiency and public programs. In the first area, organizations have attempted to use alternative means of energy, if possible, but many more have focused on developing or purchasing more efficient equipment. For example, Fox River Mills, a manufacturer of gloves and athletic socks, spent $40,000 on measures to improve energy efficiency and reduced the company's monthly utility bill by about $3,000. The company installed energy-efficient ballasts in 600 fluorescent lights, moved the lights closer to the work being performed, added six inches of insulation to outside walls, installed white steel inner walls to reflect light, and directed wasted heat from air compressors and boilers inside its facility to heat part of the building in cold months.
In the second area, firms have encouraged the use of van pooling. This public program has a twofold benefit: it reduces the amount of fuel consumed by using one vehicle instead of six, and it reduces traffic congestion on already snarled streets and freeways.
CONSUMER PROTECTION
In recent years another major area of concentration for businesses has been consumerism — activities undertaken to protect the rights of the consumer. To genuinely partner with society, businesses cannot simply produce a product and place it on the market. Consumer protection involves consumer rights: the right to product safety, to be informed, to choose, and to be heard.
Product Safety
Businesses have spent time and money to improve the safety of products. Spurred on by the fear of lawsuits and consumer action, they have initiated a number of innovative ideas to ensure product safety.
Companies spend millions of dollars researching product safety. The auto industry has developed padded dashboards, shock-absorbing steering columns, and stronger gasoline tanks. Many companies have delayed the release of products until conclusive results of testing have been obtained, have initiated product recalls when their testing has discovered problems, and have attempted to identify product purchasers to make recalls less difficult.
Consumer Information
Consumers have the right to have access to complete information about a product before they buy it, including information on potential dangers associated with the product. In response, companies have provided specific information on labels of food containers, and tags on clothing contain information on fabric composition and
care. In addition, companies have co-sponsored, with retailers, workshops or clinics where consumers can see demonstrations of products and receive answers to their questions. Companies have produced extensive operating instructions, safety procedures, and practical uses of products to be provided to consumers at the time of purchase.
Product Choice
Consumers have the right in the marketplace to choose between products offered by competing producers and marketers. This right is assured through the competition in the private enterprise system and by government antitrust laws.
Voicing Concerns
Consumers have the right to be listened to and to have action taken when it is justified. A number of manufacturers have developed systematic programs to deal with consumer issues. A number of companies have established toll-free numbers for consumers to use to solve operating problems or receive product advice. Maytag introduced Red Carpet Service to improve its response to repair problems. General Electric operates the GE Answer Center, which handles consumer inquiries twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, via a toll-free number. It receives 3 million calls each year. The center responds to questions from potential consumers and do-it-yourselfers and tries to resolve complaints from disgruntled customers.
Vocabulary
rank – to have a particular position in a list of people or things that are put in order of quality or importance: rank among/as/with; be ranked fourth/number one; rank sb/sth in order; rank (n): high/low/senior/junior rank; be reduced to the ranks (=be punished by no longer being an officer); rise from the ranks (=to become an officer); join the ranks of – become a member; of the first rank – of the highest quality; the rank and file – ordinary members of the organization; ranking officer – the officer in a group who has the highest rank
contiguous – next to something (with); contiguity (n).
discard – to get rid of something useless; discarded (adj).
immerse – to put sth deep into a liquid so that it is completely covered: immerse sth in; immerse yourself in – get completely involved in; immersion (n).
counteract – to reduce or prevent the bad effect of something.
resolve – to find a satisfactory way of dealing with a problem; resolve to do sth – to make a formal decision, especially by voting; resolve sth into sth – to separate or become separated into parts; resolve itself into – to gradually change into sth else, become; resolution (n); to make (New Year’s) resolution.
disgruntled – annoyed, unhappy, especially because things have nor happened the way expected.
