Environment Support

Microsoft at Large

Microsoft Corporation is an American computer technology company engaged in the manufacture, development, licensing and support of software products for computers. With its headquarters in Washington, its business extends globally, deploying 78,000 employees in 105 countries and regions.

Bill Gates founded Microsoft in 1975 with his childhood friend Paul Allen. During college at Harvard University, he developed a version of BASIC, which is a programming language, for the MITS Altair. Gates eventually left Harvard to fully focus on Microsoft. The company eventually dominated the market in the mid-1980s through MS-DOS, a home computer operating system. Presently, Microsoft has become the worldwide leader in software, service and solutions. Microsoft's best-selling products are the MS Windows Operating System and the Microsoft Office Suite software.

Aside from marketing operating systems and office suites, Microsoft also markets computer hardware gadgets including Xbox, Xbox360, MSN TV, and Zune.

Microsoft's wide array of products includes:

The Executives

Environmental Efforts

True to the company's ecological principles, Microsoft has given immense efforts in creating an earth-friendly workplace, and energy-efficient products and operations.

Microsoft has renovated older buildings and constructed new corporate structures that have energy-efficient, state-of-the-art designs, with the use of recycled and non-toxic materials. Their use of double-glazed windows enables natural light to enter, thus reducing the need for electric lighting. On top of this, electric lights are automatically turned off when rooms are not occupied within ten minutes.

They also set up a tank that is able to collect 36,000 cubic meters of rainwater, which they use to irrigate a 48-acre campus and to run power-efficient air conditioning systems. Such practice accounts for the reduction of annual water usage by eleven million gallons. They also use paper that contains recycled components.

Microsoft's newest and largest data center in Washington is run by hydroelectric power which is a renewable source of power, and certainly environment-friendly. The company also works with Carbon Disclosure Project where kilowatts of usage are being tracked. Microsoft has a silver certification level for environmental design from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Program.

Microsoft intensified its advocacy for a cleaner and more power-efficient environment through a solar power system that the company installed in celebration of Earth Day 2006. A total of 2,288 solar panels were mounted across 31,000 square feet on the campus building roofs. This is believed to be the largest solar panel power system in Silicon Valley. These panels generate 480 kilowatts of power at peak capacity per hour which provides up to 15% of the total energy used in the campus.

Moreover, Microsoft provides free shuttle service between offices and train stations. They also provide free mass transit passes for its 35,000 employees in the Seattle area. Employees are also entitled to get discounts if they buy gas-electric hybrid cars. Cascade Investment, a venture firm funded by Bill Gates, invested $84 million in Pacific Ethanol wherein they manufacture corn-derived ethanol which is mixed with gas to power cars. Additionally, Microsoft employees got involved in the Cool It campaign which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Cool It has tools and tips on how to make your lifestyle "carbon neutral."

In their drive to continue their sustainability efforts, Microsoft has also eliminated the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from their packaging, a type of plastic shown to be dangerous to the immune and reproductive systems and releases dioxins that cause cancer. Instead, recyclable materials are used. The use of plastic clamshells is also reduced by 70%. The use of styrene is substituted by cardboard and packaging size is also minimized.

Microsoft is also working towards environmental sustainability through software and hardware products that bring about reduction of energy consumption as well. Mobile devices enable isolated access to the Internet, and in this manner less energy is required unlike a standard desktop or laptop computer.

A group of Microsoft employees created a website called Shades of Blue and Green where they post current environmental issues and suggest alternative, green solutions. They have also created a blog where they exchange thoughts and insights regarding discussions about social and environmental sustainability.

Microsoft Environment Resources