The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Microsoft on its list of the largest green power users; and has ranked the company at number two of the top 100 users in the nation.
As the EPA reports, Microsoft currently purchases nearly 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually for its U.S. operations, which is enough green power to match 100 percent of Microsoft’s U.S. electricity use. Our annual purchase of green power is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the electricity use of nearly 236,000 average American homes annually. In addition to ranking second on the National Top 100 list, Microsoft also ranks second on both the Fortune 500® list and the Top 30 Tech & Telecom list.
We recognize that climate change is a serious challenge that will require a comprehensive and global response from all sectors of society, which is why we made the commitment from our fiscal year (FY) 2013 (beginning July 2012) to carbon neutrality. We have worked to achieve this commitment each year in a variety of ways, including increasing our commitment to purchase green power. Starting FY15 (July 2014 – June 2015), we purchase green power in the same geographies in which we operate globally to obtain the carbon reduction under the new GHG Protocol Scope 2 guidelines. We are honored to have made the EPA’s list and applaud the other organizations that have been recognized for their significant investments in the nation’s green power market.