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?
