GoogleBlog: Carbon neutrality by end of 2007. [via Phil]

Google are setting an excellent example so far:

Our plan to neutralize Google’s carbon footprint includes three basic strategies:

• reduce energy consumption by maximizing efficiency;
• invest in and use renewable energy sources; and
• purchase carbon offsets for the emissions that we can’t reduce directly.

To calculate our carbon footprint, we took into account emissions from purchased electricity, employee commuting, business travel, construction, and server manufacturing. In a partnership with the Environmental Resources Trust (ERT), we have independently verified this assessment, and will do so every year.

In order to meet our short-term goal of carbon neutrality, we have decided to purchase some carbon offsets. To be clear, we see carbon offsets not as a permanent solution but rather as a temporary tool which allows us to take full responsibility for our impact right away. … When considering an offset project, we carefully examine the project’s environmental integrity, its ability to be monitored and verified, and the impact that our investment will have in furthering that project’s goals. In other words, we want to make sure that our offset funding directly enables the project, and that the carbon savings of the project are real.

The post goes on to spruik some of the other things Google is doing to reduce their carbon footprint. It’s really great to see such a big company making an effort to go carbon neutral and doing it with the “Reduce, Renew, Offset” method we’re so fond of.