Apple once again tops in tech for environmentally-friendly datacenters, Greenpeace says

Apple continues to outpace its Silicon Valley brethren when it comes to making environmentally conscious choices for its expanding datacenter footprint, according to Greenpeace's annual cloud computing report.

Apple's Maiden, N.C. solar farm. | Source: Apple

For the second year in a row, Apple booked a perfect 100 on Greenpeace's clean energy index. The company was given "A" ratings across the board for energy transparency, renewable energy commitment and siting policy, energy efficiency and mitigation, and renewable energy deployment and advocacy.

Second-place Yahoo scored 73, while no other company broke 50.

"Apple continues to lead the charge in powering its corner of the internet with renewable energy even as it continues to rapidly expand," the report reads. "All three of its data center expansions announced in the past year will be powered with renewable energy. Apple is also having a positive impact on pushing major colocation providers to help it maintain progress toward its 100% renewable energy goal."

Greenpeace is particularly taken with Apple's approach to bypassing stubborn utility operators by building its own renewable energy facilities. Apple has built numerous solar farms adjacent to its datacenters and also invested in hydroelectric power projects and fuel cell installations.

"Apple has led the charge in deploying on-site or nearby renewable energy investments," Greenpeace said. This is an important step, as such actions "send an unambiguous signal to power companies that they risk losing their customers' money if they do not respond to their demands, giving teeth to customers' demands for a greener offering."

Earlier this year, Apple announced that all of its U.S. operations and 87 percent of its international footprint is now powered by renewable energy, with plans to reach 100 percent in the near future. The company has also expanded its environmental initiatives to include resource management, purchasing tens of thousands of acres of working forests in the U.S. and China.

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29 Comments

maestro64

said about 8 years ago

Why isn't greenpease giving Google all kind of crap like they did to Apple for years even though Apple was doing far more than most of its competitors at the time. Once again Greenpeace complains but comes with no real solution to the problem. Solar and wind are not the solution. Solar cells have a life of 10 to 15 yrs and their efficiencies begin dropping way off, plus all the nasty chemicals need to make them plus the energy required to make them. A power plant will last 50 to 100 yrs and amount of land need to house the power plant and the coal needed is far less then solar equivalent. Those who hate coal power plants never talk about the down side of their alternatives and the real cost for their solutions and their solutions have bad side effects just like a coal power plant

proline

said about 8 years ago

Leave it to Greenpeace to applaud when a multinational decides to pave over thousands of acres of human and animal habitat in the name of renewable energy. Meanwhile they will continue to protest other cleaner sources of energy such as natural gas and nuclear which they do not perceive as "renewable" enough. To them, "renewable" has become an ideology, even a religion, rather than an option that needs to be considered on its merits. And because it is now a religion, they blind themselves to any evidence that it might be wrong- the habitat destruction of solar farms, the dead birds, bats, and insects from wind power plants- none of that matters and its blasphemy to mention it. Gotta love Greenpeace.

linkman

said about 8 years ago

In spite of this all of the other eco-terrorist organizations will scream and going into hissy fits and complain that Apple isn't doing enough, Apple is still using dangerous chemicals, Apple is not protecting workers from harm, blah blah blah.

gatorguy

said about 8 years ago

[quote name="Maestro64" url="/t/186228/apple-once-again-tops-in-tech-for-environmentally-friendly-datacenters-greenpeace-says#post_2722575"]Why isn't greenpease giving Google all kind of crap like they did to Apple for years even though Apple was doing far more than most of its competitors at the time. Once again Greenpeace complains but comes with no real solution to the problem. Solar and wind are not the solution. Solar cells have a life of 10 to 15 yrs and their efficiencies begin dropping way off, plus all the nasty chemicals need to make them plus the energy required to make them. A power plant will last 50 to 100 yrs and amount of land need to house the power plant and the coal needed is far less then solar equivalent. Those who hate coal power plants never talk about the down side of their alternatives and the real cost for their solutions and their solutions have bad side effects just like a coal power plant[/quote] They actually consider Google in the same small and elite group as Apple and Facebook, saying Google is matching Apple in the deployment of renewable energy. The report is a bit confusing to me at least. [IMG ALT=""]http://forums.appleinsider.com/content/type/61/id/58980/width/350/height/700[/IMG]

iobserve

said about 8 years ago

[quote name="Maestro64" url="/t/186228/apple-once-again-tops-in-tech-for-environmentally-friendly-datacenters-greenpeace-says#post_2722575"]Why isn't greenpease giving Google all kind of crap like they did to Apple for years even though Apple was doing far more than most of its competitors at the time. Once again Greenpeace complains but comes with no real solution to the problem. Solar and wind are not the solution. Solar cells have a life of 10 to 15 yrs and their efficiencies begin dropping way off, plus all the nasty chemicals need to make them plus the energy required to make them. A power plant will last 50 to 100 yrs and amount of land need to house the power plant and the coal needed is far less then solar equivalent. Those who hate coal power plants never talk about the down side of their alternatives and the real cost for their solutions and their solutions have bad side effects just like a coal power plant[/quote] Sorry, this was a completely ignorant statement about the efficiencies of solar and the wanton wastefulness and pollution of coal. Solar panels last 20 years with virtually no upkeep and pay for themselves within 6-8. Coal is dirt cheap and almost as clean as dirt. Solar is much greener, more renewable, and less polluting. Time to get out of the era of steam engines and think about the future for others and your children.