Earth 2.0 - Get with the program

On 4th March 2009 Microsoft Australia launched a new staff engagement environmental sustainability program, Earth 2.0. The idea is to play on software releases, reminding us that planet earth ‘is not a beta’ and inviting staff to ‘get with the program’ and to share their vision for the kind of world they want to see. In keeping with the sustainability theme, there were virtually no physical materials as part of the communication. Instead, messages were delivered electronically and staff encouraged to ‘get more information’ and share their ideas via a staff blog. In addition, video clips of staff talking about what they are already doing for the environment are posted on the SharePoint and more people invited to be interviewed by other staff to share their stories. Already, over 30 people have signed up to be interviewed.

This is in addition to the more than 90 staff who have been involved in green ‘action’ teams over the past year as Microsoft Australia designed and implemented ways to reduce environmental impacts and build positive habits around the way we use energy, deal with waste and rethink how we do things.

The Earth 2.0 theme will be continued over coming months as the overarching theme to link together a series of internal ‘action campaigns’. The next such action campaign will be launched to align with Earth Hour and will help staff make changes to reduce energy consumption by switching off (computers, lights, equipment) and ensuring their computer power settings and screen savers consume the least energy possible for the task at hand. Future campaigns will reinforce greener travel options and rethinking (beyond recycling) to reduce consumption and waste.

These internal engagement programs will help to achieve Microsoft’s global carbon intensity reduction goal of 30% by 2012 (based on 2007 levels) as announced by Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corporation this month.

While reducing our own footprint is very important, there is much more that we are focused on in addressing environmental sustainability. Microsoft and the IT industry in general have a tremendous opportunity to help people and organisations around the planet reduce their energy use and carbon emissions both through dramatically more efficient IT products, and by unlocking the power of IT to enable a more efficient economy through smart grids, smart buildings, telepresence, and more.

For further information concerning Microsoft’s position on the environment, visit here www.microsoft.com/environment

Sarah Hatcher, Environment and Sustainability Director, Microsoft Australia