When it comes to searching for ways to help the environment and reduce energy costs, few companies are looking harder than Google Inc.
In the past year, the Internet giant flipped the switch on one of the world’s biggest solar power arrays (9,200 solar panels that cover its corporate headquarters). Together with its philanthropic arm, Google.org, it also set aside $10 million for a program to speed development of plug-in electric cars, invested $20 million in wind and solar companies, and pledged tens of millions more for an ambitious initiative to find ways to make renewable energy cheaper than coal.
Why is an Internet company so interested in energy?
Partly, because it uses a whole lot of it. The massive network of computer servers Google uses to run its Internet search engine suck up millions of dollars of electricity each month, by some estimates. Finding cheap, reliable power is of utmost importance to the company. It also hopes to make money off its energy investments in the future.
But there’s also a deep streak of environmentalism that runs throughout Google, from its billionaire founders to many of its newest employees.
At the center of it all is twenty-six year old Robyn Beavers, a redhead from the Boston area who now runs Google’s “Green Biz Ops.”
In a recent interview at the company’s “Googleplex” headquarters in Mountain View, CA, here’s some of what Beavers had to say about her job, herself, and her role at Google.
Q: So what exactly do you do?
A: We basically focus on the direct environmental impact from Google. We also focus on greening our offices—energy efficiency, sustainable design, healthy interiors. We also focus on greening the electricity coming to our offices.
Q I noticed all the plugs hanging down from the (solar panel-covered) carports when I drove in. What’s that about?
A: We were just planning ahead for when plug-in hybrids are commercially available and it will be easy for people to buy them.
Q: Is that related to the $10 million electric car program you all announced earlier?
A: Yeah. We’re basically hoping to make (electric cars) more scalable and affordable.
Q: So you’re investing in electric cars, solar power, and renewable energy that’s cheaper than coal. Why is electricity so important to an Internet company?
A: Well, we’re a consumer of electricity so it’s in our best interest to find cheap electricity to use. And because we really care about it, we don’t want to be destroying the planet.
Q: You do other things besides electricity too, right? Tell me about what you did with this building we’re in now, for instance.
A: We did a lot of experimenting with cradle-to-cradle products. Our carpet, for instance. When we’re done with it, we can send it back to the manufacturer and they grind it up into little pellets and use it again in the supply stream so it never ends up in a landfill. In some of our window shades and the textiles we use in our cubicles, we focus on eliminating toxins. We have filtered water everywhere, we have 90 percent fresh air coming into the building throughout the day—a lot of stuff you can’t really see.
Q: So what’s your typical day like?
A: Oh it varies. When we were installing solar panels, I was up on the roof every day or in the construction trailers. Right now, it’s more meetings and business-y sort of stuff.
Q: Your position is pretty unique, although there are more companies going green these days. How long have you been doing this?
A: About two and a half years. Actually before I did this, I was working directly for (Google co-founders) Larry (Page) and Sergey (Brin) as their assistant.
Q: Really? So how did you get into the green business then?
A: Well my background is in civil engineering and I became very interested in green building during college (at Stanford University). When I came to Google, one of my main duties was to represent Larry and Sergey on office projects. I knew my way around a construction site, and through that, I was able to help educate project teams … and you know they (the founders) gave me a lot of freedom.
Q: So you came here and said hey guys, we need to do things a little smarter, a little greener?
A: Actually it was really just sort of a natural progression. Our co-founders have always been committed to these issues. It wasn’t like I had to twist anyone’s arm or anything … it was just a matter of someone stepping up to do it.
Q: I’m sure coming from working directly for Larry and Sergey makes your job easier. Do you still have to prove yourself and the things you do?
A: All of the programs have to go through an analysis for the financial aspects and the value-add for the business of Google. Sometimes, like with the solar project, it was a great financial return, so it was a no-brainer. But a lot of times there’s a softer aspect too—like boosting morale or retaining or attracting better talent.
Q: So everything has to have a return?
A: A certain type of return. It needs to make sense. Of course sometimes we just do things for fun—like put a T-rex (statue) in our courtyard—just because we’re Google. But generally, we’re trying to prove that sustainability makes a lot of sense for our business.
Q: So what are your overall goals here?
A: Well we’ve stated certain goals. We’ve pledged fifty megawatts of renewable energy by 2012. We’ve also pledged carbon neutrality by the end of this year. But those are all just placeholders because it seems the public demands goals. Internally, we’re focused really on impactful results. Goals are great, but the real question is, how can we be more impactful?
Q: It must be cool to work in an environment where you can kind of see beyond arbitrary goals.
A: It is cool. But the biggest stress of my job is that I’m not doing enough. Everything I propose gets approved. One day our CEO told me I’m not making his life difficult enough, basically.
Q: Outside of Google, how would you characterize the business world’s acceptance of green technologies these days?
A: Man, it has skyrocketed. When I started this job two and a half years ago, I really had no counterparts at other companies. If I did, it was somebody who had been reluctantly plunked into the position. Now it’s like a growing job industry.
Q: So what caused the green streak in you, personally?
A: I spent every summer in a sleep-away camp in Maine, basically living outside for two months straight. I think that had a lot of impact on me without me realizing it. I went into civil engineering because I loved architecture. But then I realized how things were built … and the more philosophical connection between how our structures really depend on the natural environment and how they couldn’t exist without it.
Q: So a lot of it came out when you were studying civil engineering?
A: Yes. Definitely.
Q: So I have to ask—what do you drive and what kind of house do you live in?
A: Well I’m a renter.
Q: But I’m sure it’s a sustainable-built house, right?
A: It’s a little tiny cottage on somebody’s lot.
Q: Ok, what about the car?
A: I drive a Volvo sedan.
Q: Not a hybrid?
A: Not a hybrid, because my car works fine, and it would be wasteful to get rid of a car when I don’t need to. I really don’t drive that much anyway.
Q: Do you take public transportation?
A: Yep. I used to bike a lot too. But now I have a dog and that’s a lot harder to do.