Microsoft’s 2013 Citizenship Report
Microsoft said 300,000 metric tons of CO2 was offset by innovative projects such as the company-wide carbon fee and the purchase of 2.3 billion kilowatt hours of renewable energy—more than twice the amount purchased in FY12.
“We instituted a carbon fee last year because it had the potential to ignite a culture change, and that’s exactly what’s starting to happen. A carbon price means that we now have a common language for how to drive awareness around and begin to reduce emissions. It’s made environmental sustainability an increasingly important part of how Microsoft does business,” said Rob Bernard, the company’s chief environmental strategist.
For example, the company’s latest data centers in Ireland, Iowa, Virginia, and Washington use only 1 to 3 percent of the water needed for a traditional data center, and they produce no wastewater.