Sony Pictures Entertainment Reduces 100,000 Tons of Carbon Emissions though Renewable Energy Projects-

Sony Corporation has announced that its renewable energy initiatives in fiscal year 2008 have lead to the company offsetting almost 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide production. Sony Group companies throughout the United States acquired 42 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy in 2008, amounting to a 25,000 ton reduction in CO2. Sony DADC, the leading producer of optical disc media, announced in April 2009 that it is procuring more than 83 million kWh of green energy in the United States annually – enough to meet 44 percent of the organization’s electricity use. In Arizona, Sony Pictures is utilizing 100 percent renewable energy for its data center and has installed solar photovoltaic cells on the rooftop of an existing building at its Culver City, California headquarters. The studio is also researching other renewable energy sources in film production, such as biodiesel to run production generators on the set of films; which was employed successfully on the recent film, “The Taking of Pehlam 123”. Sony Europe has accomplished independent credentials that every facility with over one hundred employees is powered with 100 percent renewable energy equaling 190 million kilowatt hours – or about 55,000 tons of CO2 emission offsets. Due to its unwavering energy efficient standards, the company’s European operations have effectively reduced CO2 emissions by roughly 90 percent between fiscal years 2000 and 2008. The company has also purchased Green Power Certificates comparable to about 50 percent of the energy to be used at Sony City headquarters in Tokyo, which they will begin utilizing in October of 2009. This is the first employment of green energy at Sony City in Tokyo and the program is projected to reduce carbon emissions by about 6,800 tons annually. The Sony Group in Japan, however, has implemented a total of 55.49 million kWh in green energy through the Green Power Certificate System in fiscal year 2008. With the recent additional purchase for Sony City, the total has risen to 70.94 million kWh; maintaining Sony as the largest purchaser of renewable energy in Japan. The company affirms that it will continue promoting and utilizing renewable energy throughout its various sites and will remain vigilant to further energy conservation efforts.