Resolutions filed by CalSTRS, with Citrix Systems, Dun & Bradstreet, Electronic Arts and Fiserv, follow a letter sent by the pension fund to 100 companies last year, asking for more disclosure on their energy management practices. The resolutions call for increased energy efficiency planning and improved reporting.

"For large energy users like IT firms, inefficiency can be costly to shareholders," Brian Rice of CalSTRS said. "Investing in efficiency is an excellent option for many companies, with internal rates of return often approaching 20 percent or more."

The real estate sector is another industry with heavy energy use; it has been estimated that 40 percent of all GHG emissions in the U.S. come from buildings. The New York City Office of the Comptroller has filed resolutions with Equity Residential, Kimco Realty and SL Green Realty, requesting that the companies produce sustainability reports "addressing greenhouse gas emissions, water conservation, waste minimization, energy efficiency, and other environmental and social impacts the board deems relevant to company's business."

A resolution filed by Calvert with Public Storage, the world's largest owner and operator of self-storage facilities, was withdrawn after the company agreed to disclose more information about its energy use and management.

Editor's note: This article originally appeared at SocialFunds.com and is reprinted with permission.

Boardroom image by manhattanloftcorporation via Compfight cc.