Microsoft vs. Google: Who's greener?

(continued from previous page)

Microsoft also had taken steps to reduce waste from the packaging of its software products and has eliminated from its packaging PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which some studies have shown to release dioxins that can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems.

The company also offers refurbishment programs that help organizations extend the life of older PCs and is working with manufacturing partners on ways to use materials that aren't as damaging to the environment as plastic and metals.

"We're doing tests on potato skins. Think of all those french fries out there," Krajewski said. "We're also looking at different biodegradable materials, such as corn starch and sugar."

Google in the running
Google's efforts are more low-key and esoteric. For instance, Google serves hormone-free chicken, beef from free-range cows and eggs from cage-free hens in its five cafeterias. Also, its first official mashup unveiled late last month is titled Summer of Green and has information about earth-friendly tourist destinations in the U.S.

Video: Microsoft partners with the sun
Claims to be solar star in Silicon Valley

Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page also have invested in solar power but company representatives declined to reveal more details on the executives' personal activities. Top executives were not available for comment, a representative said. Meanwhile, the company is low key about the fact that former vice president and longtime environmental activist Al Gore is an advisor to the company.

Google provides free shuttle rides for its employees in the San Francisco Bay Area to and from its offices in Mountain View, which is not far from Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus. The company also donates money to worker-chosen charities in exchange for employees getting to work by any means besides riding in cars. For instance, employees get points for walking, biking and taking public transportation.

All around the Google campus, which at times resembles a university mall more than an office complex, are bikes and electric scooters that workers use to get around the lush lawns and public right-of-way. A "bike doctor" offers free bike maintenance one day each quarter. Google also pays workers $5,000 toward the cost of new Prius or Honda Civic hybrid cars.

Google does not take its air and water quality lightly, either. For example, George Salah, director of facilities, goes by the "sniff test."

"It really is about people's health," Salah said during a tour last week of Google's "Green" Building 43. "Smell this," he instructed, snatching a magazine off a lobby table and brandishing it in front of this reporter's face. "If you can smell chemicals in something you buy it's probably not good for you," he said.

Green faux-leather couches are made from recycled material, the carpet is recycled and recyclable, and the staircases are made of sustainably forested wood. The walls were painted with low levels of volatile organic compounds, some of which are sound proofed with recycled blue jeans and most of which are accessorized with plants. Even some of the ergonomic Steelcase chairs are made from 92 percent recycled content and can eventually be used somewhere other than landfills.

The air-conditioning system uses 90 percent outside air that flushes fresh air from the nearby bay through the building and filters out particulates, as well as chemicals, Google said.

"We're trying to create the highest-quality space possible for people," Salah said. "We are all subjected to low levels of toxins every day in our lives...If we accumulate it over the span of a lifetime, sooner or later it's going to get you."

Whatever diseases the filter system can't prevent, perhaps the on-site doctor, massage therapists, nutritionist, yoga classes and volleyball courts can. The water systems use a reverse osmosis filter that provides better tasting and healthier water than can be found in plastic-leeching sports bottles.

Although a few toilets have heated seats and bidet-like functions, most of the toilets and urinals are energy efficient and use minimal water. Much of the lighting is also energy efficient and the ubiquitous floor-to-ceiling glass means many rooms don't need any electric light until it gets dark.

"They're making the indoor environment more human friendly. There are toxins in materials that can cause indoor air pollution," said Sierra Club's Van Velsor. "That's an important thing for corporations to recognize, as well."

Google, whose free cafeteria food is infamously tasty, takes its earth-friendly practices into the kitchen.

"We cook with a minimum of oil, no (cancer causing agents) nitrate and nitrite, and (use) organic where it makes sense," said John Dickman, global food services manager.

Like Microsoft, Google recycles and composts. The city of Mountain View is using Google as a test site for a compost project that is expected to be citywide, Dickman said.

Among the campus's five cafeterias is one opened in March called Cafe 150, which serves only ingredients from farms within 150 miles of the kitchen. The trash volume in the dining room is zero and all the to-go silverware, cups and containers are compostable, said Nate Keller, Cafe 150 executive chef. The ovens are economical, using computers to set temperatures and cooking times. One local supplier delivers goods in a biodiesel-based truck and fills it up with fat from the kitchen's fryer, Keller said.

"If you transport food from Chile, or even Florida, that's a significant distance and greenhouse gases are emitted in the transportation of that food," Van Velsor said.

[Blito]

HHO fuel ROX!

Looks pretty good as far as having a very instant translation process from water to HHO. HHO is not as volatile as Hydrogen and doesn't produce excess heat.

http://www.waterfuelconverters.com/

[jazzcat]

Windows Not Efficient

Sorry, there's no comparison here. The excessive energy usage of the millions of PC's and servers that use Windows caused by Microsoft's inefficient code (and their need to add complexity for security and inefficient virus scanners) most likely far outweighs any effort they put forth to curtail energy usage.

[jeffgo4]

Datacenters not efficient

Windows has extensive power management capability, but many customers don't use it or application software disables the functions. Many times a computer has been set up to sleep after a certain amount of time, but the policy stops working.

A big concern too is the massive datacenters that both companies operate and continue to expand. These are not nearly as efficient as they could be, relying on a huge number of servers (think millions) running under their capacity, and with no active power management.

[jeffgo4]

Datacenters not efficient

Windows has extensive power management capability, but many customers don't use it or application software disables the functions. Many times a computer has been set up to sleep after a certain amount of time, but the policy stops working.

A big concern too is the massive datacenters that both companies operate and continue to expand. These are not nearly as efficient as they could be, relying on a huge number of servers (think millions) running under their capacity, and with no active power management.

[promiscuousrobot]

Good old solar...

It's just too bad that electricity-generating solar panels take more energy to produce than they can ever generate in their lifetime. Not to mention many components and chemicals in solar panels are highly toxic and horrid for our environment. Solar heating, sure. Solar electricity, no dice. Just one more reason for me to stick with my trusty Linux OS.

[rmiecznik]

Solar panels

Solar panels could be better, if the people who designed them realized that sun light is not needed to create electricity, that's for magnetic induction is for, if they doped the material with components that further reach to the sunlight to product electricity via induction, then they would produce a lot more voltage difference.

Just my 3 cents.

I love Linux and OS X too.

[James_U]

Apples & Oranges

The answer to this question is, "both." Google is clearly leading in the internet services space with an incredible advantage over Yahoo and Microsoft. Google will continue to use its lead position as the search king to add more new internet services and further secures its position on the Web. However, Microsoft is obviously leading in the area of business and consumer computing. Microsoft continues to grow by double digits year over year, and is entering new software markets all the time. IBM, Sun, Oracle and MSFT's traditional competitors continue to lose share to MSFT, so the grass is extremely green for MSFT's bottom line for quite some time to come.

Will Google create a web-based computing platform to usurp Microsoft? IMO, that is unlikely to happen within the next decade if ever. People like control over their personal information, and storing things "out there somewhere" is uncomfortable. Will Microsoft whip MSN into shape and create a division that slowly eats into Google's space over time. IMO, that is more likely.

So, while both company's futures are green I'd have to say Microsoft's is greener. History certainly is on their side.

Now, if they would just re-visit the SAP acquisition and consider a SalesForce.com acquisition as well, I'd really have to give MSFT the edge. They need to shake things up a bit and get people excited again. Steve, Bill, you out there?

James.

[techtrash7]

Cool High Tech Trash Video via Microsoft

http://www.on10.net/Blogs/TheShow/3567/

[ecotechwater]

Water Conservation

I don't see any reference to Google or Micrsoft doing anything about conserving water. Water Conservation is an important "Green" matter. Ecotech water is saving facilities between 50% and 70% on thier water consumption by using Ecotech Air Induced products. More information is available at www.ecotechwater.com.