Nowadays, it’s hard not to notice that things just aren’t what they used to be.  Do you remember when you were still a kid, excited for summer because of all the fun activities to do under the sun?  Now, you dread the summer season because it’s freakishly hot!  People could actually die and many have perished because of heat waves during the summer.  How about during winter?  You get so excited when you see that first snow flake fall.  But now, you fear raging blizzards or not having snow at all.  Not to mention the devastating hurricanes, untimely snowfalls, flash floods and other natural disasters that are becoming more and more frequent over the years.  It’s Mother Nature’s way of telling us she’s had enough.  She’s done taking care of us, now it’s time to take care of her.

Companies all over the world are supporting the green initiative in their own ways.  Google, the web search giant, has been showing support by making their offices greener with eco-friendly building materials that help eliminate toxins in the air, providing Google employees safe air for breathing.  They are also pushing for recycling energy and water to reduce their consumption, and using solar panels for their energy needs.  Their internal Sustainable Pursuit program allows teams to earn points based on how green their office is.  A healthy competition assures that everyone is doing their part, rewarding those that make the effort.

Google is also supporting the Green Flight Challenge that will run from September 25 to October 3, 2011 hosted by NASA at the Moffett Field.  The challenge aims to find the best, fuel-efficient aircraft capable of flying 200 miles with speeds of at least 100 miles per hour, all with efficiencies of 200 passenger miles per gallon.  First prize will win $1.3 million.

Other tech companies have also joined the green movement as IBM participates through recycling IT equipment and gears, and reselling them via their Global Assets Recovery Service.  Dell followed suit, while Microsoft’s modular data center design reduces energy consumption by 50%.  Then there’s Verizon, which implemented the PolarPlex data containment solution, separating hot and cold air for maximum ventilation. EMC has the Green Power Choice Program that enables both residential and business consumers purchase renewable landfill of methane gas as a power source.

If these companies are able to instill in their employees the importance of saving the environment, making it more of a habit than just something employees would do for the reward, these employees will adapt these habits to their personal lives, ultimately creating an enormous impact beyond the work place.

But even if these big companies do their part in saving the environment, it will just go to waste if we, the consumers, don’t do our part as well.  It’s not that hard to make a change.  You can start by simply turning off or utilizing the power-saver on computer or laptop.  Aside from conserving energy, this also decreases CO2 emissions, in turn decreasing the greenhouse effect.  It’s debatable whether or not all these unfortunate disasters occurring worldwide are mostly brought about by the greenhouse effect, but it’s better to be safe (and smart) than sorry.