How you can offset your carbon footprint by using Microsoft cloud services

While we see a growing demand for cloud and internet services, we cannot ignore the fact that data centres already account for 1% of the world's electricity consumption and 0.3% of global carbon emissions. By choosing a low carbon footprint provider, you can minimise your company's environmental impact, which will ultimately benefit your customers, your partners and your employees.

No matter how you look at it, there is no getting away from the fact that the internet and its infrastructure have a significant environmental impact. Figures show, for example, that the overall IT sector has as much environmental impact as the aviation industry and that data centres alone account for 0.3% of global CO2 emissions.

The climate impact of companies has recently become increasingly important, not least in procurement. At the same time, a new generation is entering the labour market. A generation that has grown up in the shadow of the environmental threat and is making demands on its future workplace.

Cloud services are up to 93 percent more energy efficient

Choosing a multinational giant like Microsoft over in-house or traditional hosting solutions for sustainability reasons may sound strange - but it's not. In this case, size is an advantage. Studies show that Microsoft's cloud services are up to 93 percent more energy efficient and 98 percent more carbon efficient than traditional data centers.

Microsoft is currently driving a number of initiatives for a better environment, with a sustainability vision that includes business, products and customers. Their work includes:

  • Building sustainable campuses and data centres
  • Driving research through computer science
  • Partner with existing and new customers to drive sustainable change
  • Advocating for change in environmental policy

Carbon neutral since 1 July 2019

An important part of Microsoft's environmental efforts is the internal carbon tax introduced in 2012 to hold all divisions accountable for reducing their carbon emissions. Each quarter, the various divisions pay the fee into a green fund, based on the amount of emissions. In 2019, the internal tax was increased to $15 per tonne, as part of the company's vision to expand its sustainability commitments and reduce its carbon emissions by 75% by 2030. Microsoft's operations have been carbon neutral since 1 July 2019, offsetting the emissions that cannot be avoided by purchasing renewable energy and emission allowances.

Building the world's most sustainable data centre in Sweden

Microsoft has long been committed to building sustainable data centres. In fact, some of the world's most sustainable data centres will be built here in Sweden, in Sandviken, Gävle and Staffanstorp. In addition to using only renewable electricity generation, they are working with Vattenfall to build an electricity infrastructure in the region, reduce overall carbon emissions and achieve a zero waste operation.

In fact, Microsoft and Vattenfall's collaboration goes back further than that. In 2017, they struck a major wind power deal in the Netherlands, when Microsoft bought the Wieringermeer wind farm, north of Amsterdam. The facility is operated by Vattenfall and is adjacent to Microsoft's data centre in the area.

Technological advances for a sustainable future

As an employee, using Microsoft cloud services for collaboration and communication also creates a more sustainable way of working. Taking meetings in Microsoft Teams and collaborating in the cloud is a great way to avoid unnecessary travel by train, car and plane. But technological advances have more positive effects than that. According to a report by PwC UK, the use of artificial intelligence could increase global GDP by up to 4.4% while reducing emissions to 4% by 2030. Microsoft is driving research in this area, including through its AI for Earth programme with data and open APIs for environmentally friendly AI solutions.

You should feel confident in your choice

With Microsoft's certifications, internal carbon tax and renewable energy targets, you can feel confident that your company has made a good choice - which will ultimately benefit your customers, partners and employees too.

These are just a few examples of how Microsoft works on environmental issues. If you are interested in knowing more, there is a lot of information on Microsoft's own sustainability pages.

Since its inception, WeSafe has specialised in Microsoft cloud services and has unique expertise in this area. Want to know more about how you can use Microsoft Cloud Services? Contact us here.

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