It can't make up for killing off America's main streets, but Wal-Mart's solar and wind-powered store outside of Dallas, TX is an interesting experiment. And that's probably exactly what Wal-Mart wants its enemies to say. A tree-shaded parking lot and wildflower meadow, rain capture and pavement that lets water seep into the ground, recycling of food and motor oil--what more can your media campaign ask for?
If this single green megastore shaves a few dollars off its overhead costs, will the corner-cutting corporation convert to clean operations elsewhere?
If Wal-Mart could spark a clean-energy domino effect across the corporate landscape, it might even live up to its p.r. hype about "operating globally and giving back locally." Well, on second thought maybe not. Is Wal-Mart going to stop ripping off the Bangladeshi women who sew the stripes on the store's pants? Is Wal-Mart going to stock its shelves with doodads made from bioplastics and hemp?
Meanwhile, CostCo's getting points from the New York Times (its most e-mailed story today) for being the "anti-WalMart," as investment gurus chide CostCo for paying employees an average of $17 an hour.
Green-eyed developers are working on an 800-acre renewable energy resort and shopping hub with "the world's first 21st century technology cluster." Syracuse, NY, is bracing for the green mega-mall DestinyUSA, and Joel Makower promises to keep you posted on its progress.
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