Microsoft intends to be carbon neutral during the upcoming fiscal year (beginning July 1) partly be charging internal divisions a carbon fee. The company says it will reduce carbon emissions as much as possible and buy carbon credits to make up the difference.
“The model of accountability is based on an internal carbon fee administered through our corporate finance department and cascaded globally to our business groups,” writes Rob Bernard, Microsoft’s chief environmental officer. “This charge-back model will place a price on carbon and make the company’s business divisions responsible for the cost of offsetting the carbon emissions associated with their electricity use and air travel.”
Microsoft was among the tech companies recently criticized by Greenpeace for not using enough renewable energy to power its data centers.
Source: Todd Bishop, Geekwire, May 8, 2012.