Nothing makes this environmentally-conscious capitalist happier than watching a behemoth like Wal-Mart embrace ‘green’ technology. Because when this happens, an entire segment of a particular ‘green’ market can go from niche to mainstream in an instant.

Now historically, Wal-Mart has been a prime target for environmentalists and corporate responsibility advocates. The concept of green markets was not something typically associated with the retail giant.

Though bit by bit, this is changing. In fact, over the past few years, CEO, Lee Scott has been carefully positioning Wal-Mart to become a more socially and environmentally-conscious $300 billion company.

I know, to some this may sound like an oxymoron.

Nonetheless, at the end of the day, the company’s primary responsibility is still to its shareholders. Though it can also be argued that it has a responsibility to the global community it employs and profits from as well. (It is possible, and even profitable, for the two to go hand in hand)

Now listen. Before you get all hot and bothered, let me assure you that I’m not trying to climb up on a soapbox here…as my feelings on this have nothing to do with you making money.

But Wal-Mart’s decision to embrace this concept…well that’s what this all boils down to.

Because Wal-Mart’s latest ‘green’ integration has much more to offer than just an environmentally-responsible decision. It’s offering up a practical, affordable and profitable solution to our domestic energy crisis.

This is Huge!!!

It all started about a year ago, when a Wal-Mart employee discovered that if the company were to change the conventional, incandescent light bulbs in the ceiling-fan displays in every Wal-Mart store to Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL), the company could save $6 million!

Yes, you read that correctly – $6 million!

A typical Wal-Mart has 10 models of ceiling fans on display. Each holds four bulbs. So that’s 40 bulbs per store…3,230 stores in total.

By changing to CFLs, Wal-Mart could save $6 million in electric bills.

Because you see, CFLs, while emitting the same light as incandescent bulbs, use 75% to 80% less electricity. Plus, they can last between 5 to 10 years longer.

Imagine installing a CFL – only to have to replace it the following decade!

Given today’s energy crunch and the escalating prices in tow – the impact CFLs will have on the light bulb industry will not only transform it – but could actually wipe out the entire incandescent industry altogether.

Look at it like this…

If one of every 110 million American households replaced one conventional 60-watt light bulb with a CFL, the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people.

Better yet, replacing just one bulb could save enough electricity to close two power plants.

So it’s no surprise to see Wal-Mart chiming in on this one.

From an energy and conservation angle – it’s a PR grand slam. From a market share angle – it’s a no-brainer. Because it’s really only a matter of time before incandescent bulbs are almost completely replaced by CFLs.

Consumers will see to this.

You see, these things use such a small amount of power compared to conventional incandescent bulbs, a $3 CFL will actually pay for itself in lower electric bills in about five months.

Given the bulb’s lifespan – well, you can see exactly why CFLs will quickly become the status quo.

And Wal-Mart’s going to be the number #1 supplier.

In the next 12 months, Wal-Mart plans to sell every one of its regular customers – about 100 million, one CFL.

This is huge!

Given Wal-Mart’s massive customer base, the company can single-handedly change energy consumption in the U.S. (And the PR certainly doesn’t hurt either!)

Of course, the question remains – who’s making these things?

100 million is a tall order that can only be fulfilled by another industry behemoth. And that’s exactly what’s happening.

Currently, General Electric owns about 60% of the residential light bulb market in the U.S. and seems to be more than willing to pack up its century-long light bulb franchise to take the lead in CFLs.

Consumer demand and GE’s own green business initiative, “ecomagination” (launched last year to make environmentally sustainable technologies a larger part of GE’s business) are putting GE at the top of the food chain on this one.

Not that you’d expect much else. These guys aren’t giving up the light bulb business!

Nonetheless, Wal-Mart’s and GE’s latest initiative is further proof that green energy and conservation markets are no longer geared towards a niche demographic. This stuff is mainstream…now. And just as we’ve been doing for years – we’ll continue to highlight the opportunities within these markets that consistently deliver for us time and time again.

In fact, right now we’re only 4 days away from our next big renewable energy payoff. It’s a solar play that’ll soon have the industry by its short hairs.

Its annual revenue is already $8.5 billion. That’s more than 3 of the top solar players combined. Evergreen Solar, SunTech and SunPower have combined annual revenue of about $950 million.

And the best part is – this company has $2.83 billion in cash, sitting in the bank. Again, more than the other 3 solar companies combined.

The company's quarterly sales growth is a staggering 56%. Its quarterly earnings growth is 38%. And they've just barely scratched the surface in the booming solar industry.

But that’s all going to change on September 5…when the company shows the world how it plans to transform the industry – and finally make solar competitive with coal and natural gas!

Of course, you don’t have to wait for the goods on this one. Click here to get the full story now.

And mark my words – it’s not going to take long for this story to get out. In fact, I suspect we’re not the only renewable energy investors tapping this one right now.

Take a look at the company’s chart in just the last few days…

Something’s definitely going on here. And we’re a part of it!