Popular search engine Google have said that they will be powered completely by renewable energy in 2017.
Holding 60,000 employees across their data centres and offices, Google leads the way for technology companies to limit their environmental impact. Especially as such companies now account for 2% of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions, which is likely to increase due to new technologies being discovered.
It was last year Google bought 44% of its power from wind and solar investments, making it the largest corporate buyer of renewable electricity. Additionally, they plan to invest in nuclear power in the near future.
“We are convinced this is good for business, this is not about greenwashing. This is about locking in prices for us in the long term. Increasingly, renewable energy is the lowest cost option.”
Marc Oman, EU energy lead at Google
It’s said that Google had made the target for 100% renewable energy back in 2012 and since then have put into place power purchase agreements, which has cemented the majority of their power coming from wind farms in the US. Seizing an opportunity when prices had fallen in solar and wind technologies was genius for Google. By investing, Google have been able to set strong long term goals, these being cost effective for their business whilst decreasing their carbon footprint.
361 Degrees
Google is a great example of a company taking full advantage of new energy efficient technologies. Not only will they save money on future running costs and limit their environmental impact but they will also receive good press for going green. Further strengthening their position as a strong corporate leader.
This publicity should encourage other companies to invest in renewable technologies and explore the benefits of doing so long term. It was only reported recently by British Power that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK are missing key opportunities to become more energy efficient, as it is the bigger picture many companies are failing to see…
As a mechanical services provider, 361 Degrees excel in energy efficiency. We consult for many diverse businesses ensuring they maximise the amount of energy they use. Some of our designs have even featured government approved heat pump technology and refrigerant, which see our clients qualify for taxation benefits.
Hopefully this news of Google going green will strengthen the argument that energy efficiency is a top priority in business. And for those of you who are still sceptical, take a look at our case study page for plenty of examples of big corporate energy savings.
