EPA Recognizes Sony Corporation of America for Leading Green Power Purchase

NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Corporation of America, Sony DADC, Sony Electronics and Sony Pictures Entertainment in the U.S., under the umbrella of Sony Corporation of America, announced today that they have come together to purchase more than 143 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually for 2011, which is enough green power to meet an estimated 49 percent of these entities' electricity use.  As a result of this purchase, Sony Corporation of America ranks No. 27 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) National Top 50 list of the largest green power purchasers.

Sony is purchasing Green-e verified renewable energy certificates (RECs) through Renewable Choice Energy and 3Degrees. Additionally, Sony is using its own on-site solar installations, which produce more than 600,000 kWh/year. These activities demonstrate a proactive choice to switch away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives.

Earlier this week, EPA updated each of its National Top Partner lists, highlighting some of America's largest green power purchasers. Each list highlights EPA Green Power Partners that have contracted the largest annual voluntary purchases as of January 5, 2011. EPA updates its Top Partner Lists quarterly at www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists. Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro.  Purchases of green power help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector.

According to EPA, Sony's green power purchase of more than 143 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 20,000 passenger vehicles per year, or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of nearly 13,000 average American homes annually.  This purchase also qualifies the Company for EPA's Green Power Leadership Club, a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA's minimum purchase requirements. Green Power Leadership Club members must purchase ten times the partnership's minimum requirement organization-wide.

Sony's recent green power purchase and on-site solar generation initiatives are part of its ongoing support of renewable energy and its commitment to reducing its environmental impact globally under its "Road to Zero" environmental plan, through which the Company aims to achieve a zero environmental footprint by 2050.

As a global leader in the consumer electronics and entertainment industries, Sony is fully committed to responsible corporate citizenship and environmental stewardship through its products, its programs, its practices and its people. From research and development of energy-efficient products and processes, to the responsible re-use and recycling of materials, Sony strives to protect and promote a healthy and sustainable planet, improving the quality of life of future generations.  For more information on Sony's global environmental initiatives, visit www.sony.net/SonyInfo/csr/environment/index.html.

About Sony Corporation of America

Sony Corporation of America, based in New York, NY, is the U.S. subsidiary of Sony Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its motion picture, television, computer entertainment, music and online businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment and technology companies in the world. Sony's principal U.S. businesses include Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., and Sony Music Entertainment. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $78 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, and it employs 167,900 people worldwide.

About Renewable Choice Energy

Renewable Choice Energy is a leading national provider of greenhouse gas measurement services, energy efficiency solutions, renewable energy credits (RECs) and carbon offsets to hundreds of Fortune 500 Companies and small businesses, thousands of residential customers, and over 1400 LEED green building projects in the U.S. Founded in 2001, Boulder-Colo.-based Renewable Choice and its clients have received prestigious awards from the EPA and DOE for supporting and expanding the renewable energy market and have been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, USA TODAY, and more. http://www.renewablechoice.com

About 3Degrees

3Degrees' mission is to mitigate the effects of climate change by accelerating the development of a low-carbon, renewable energy economy.

3Degrees realizes this mission by helping its utility, business, green building and other partners utilize environmental markets to build stakeholder value. Through these partnerships, 3Degrees increases demand for renewable energy and carbon offsets, channels capital to renewable energy and carbon reduction projects and improves the efficiency of environmental markets.

Winner of the U.S. Department of Energy's Green Power Leadership Award four straight years, 3Degrees is headquartered in San Francisco's Presidio and operates regional offices in Portland, St. Louis and Seattle. To learn more, visit www.3degreesinc.com.

About EPA's Green Power Partnership

The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than 1,300 Partner organizations voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500® companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit www.epa.gov/greenpower.

SOURCE Sony Corporation of America