Each quarter, Microsoft gives out an Environmental Sustainability Action Award, along with a donation to an environmental charity of the winner’s choice, in recognition of an employee or team who has shown leadership and provides an inspiring example of how Microsoft and its employees can have a positive impact and change not only on the way we run our business, but also the way our products and services can make a difference for our customers, our partners and for society.
Our Q2 award (Oct 11-Dec 11) is being given to Isabel Moll-Kranenburg, for the Public Private Partnership she drove 
between Microsoft, Logica and the Dutch city of Utrecht. This partnership has been a great showcase for how Microsoft technology can be used effectively to reduce energy consumption and save costs on maintenance in the public space.
The City of Utrecht, like many other cities around the world is focused on increasing sustainability, security, safety and mobility, while also addressing these challenges in a cost effective manner. Isabel initiated and drove a partnership with Logica and city officials around a vision that would leverage technologies from Microsoft and our partners to provide remote control and greater levels of efficiency of their street lighting. With this solution in place, the city’s street lighting is now controlled remotely and managed based on new data analysis – data about traffic volumes, weather, and accidents. The city is projecting a 20% cost savings based on reduced energy consumption and avoided maintenance.
The solution which is now in place was created by Microsoft and Logica called IBOR, which was designed to allow the remote management of public spaces from a central location using Microsoft Surface 2.0 or Windows Phone 7. For example, in the event of an accident, emergency services can use the support of traffic lights to guide them to the right location or conduct real-time routing if an unexpected street obstruction occurs. The combination of using Windows Azure, Silverlight, Surface, SQL server and AppFabric ensures a low total cost of ownership, flexibility, scalability and security.
The partnership Isabel initiated with Logica and the city of Utrecht has been very successful and continues to grow. The city is now planning phase two 
which will provide remote control of sewage pumps that will enable Utrecht to react adequately on flooding and prevent sewage work which is not necessary. This will eventually lead to financial saving and extended life of their pumps as well as reducing the impact the city has on the environment.
Congratulations to Isabel and her team which includes: Nissi Tjin, Lieke Hamers, Cees van de Par, Jan Cornelis den Ouden and many others who contributed to this partnership!