FACEBOOK:FACEBOOK has agreed to work with environmental NGO Greenpeace to find more renewable energy resources on which to run its massive electricity-intensive data centres.
The move represents a turnaround for the social networking giant almost two years after environmentalists launched a campaign against its reliance on coal-fired power stations – which produce more CO2 emissions than any other method of generating electricity – to run its data centres.
The partnership involves Facebook committing to adopt a policy for new data centres that gives preference to locations that can provide low-carbon energy. It has also pledged to encourage its energy suppliers to increase the level of electricity generated from renewable sources.
The company will step up research into clean energy and energy-efficient IT infrastructure, which it will share with the industry through Greenpeace.