Evaluating Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility Projects An Ethnographic Approach

This book discusses sustainable development decision-making. Focusing on decisions to invest in wind turbine technology as part of a corporation’s CO2 emission reduction strategy, it presents a new evaluation framework, based on the triple bottom line framework widely used by businesses to communicate their adherence to corporate social responsibility. This new framework allows the evaluation of strategic corporate decisions to invest in wind turbines to mitigate global warming in the context of a corporation’s social responsibility, and includes an objective measurement stage to add rigor to the evaluation process.

The book describes the use of measured data from wind turbine projects to both develop and validate the methodology, and also identifies key enablers and barriers as businesses attempt to successfully integrate corporate social responsibility into their overall business strategy.

Given its scope, the book appeals to postgraduate students, researchers, and business professionals interested in the environmental impact of corporations. Featuring case studies from Ireland, it is particularly relevant to audiences within Europe.

Introduction.- Corporate Social Responsibility Through A Wind Turbine Lens – A Literature Review.- An Irish Perspective on Sustainable Business Development.- Financial Appraisal of a Micro-Generation Wind Turbine with a Case Study in Ireland.- How Profitable Are Wind Turbine Projects? An Empirical Analysis of a 3.5 MW Wind Farm in Ireland.- Stakeholder Outcomes in a Wind Turbine Investment; Is the Irish Energy Policy Effective in Reducing GHG Emissions and Electricity Costs by Promoting Small-Scale Embedded Turbines in SMEs?.- Key Enablers/Inhibitors in the Corporate Social Responsibility – Business Strategy Integration Space.- Findings.- Conclusions.

Dr Tony Kealy is a consultant in sustainable development and corporate social responsibility, and manages his own company. He also lectures at the Technological University Dublin, where he gained his MPhil and postgraduate diploma in 2003 and 2012, respectively. He has recently completed his PhD on corporate social responsibility. He has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals. His primary interests are business management, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.