CorpComms Magazine

I hear Facebook has turned green. Sounds a bit bizarre to me!

Not literally green, silly. Facebook has pledged to become greener in favour of renewable energy.

Oh I see. How has all this come about?

Earlier in the year, Greenpeace launched a Facebook campaign with the aim of getting Facebook to 'unfriend coal'.

What do you mean?

The environmental group challenged the social network to stop using coal and nuclear power at its data centres. It launched a Facebook page asking people to join in and 'unfriend coal' in an effort get Facebook to act on the issue. To date, the campaign page has gathered more than 180,000 fans.

Does Facebook use much coal?

Last year, Facebook announced its plans to open two data centres, the first of which would be powered by a local coal plant in Prineville, Oregon.

Blimey, how much fuel would that use?

Put it this way... enough to power up to 35,000 homes.

A fair bit then. So what exactly did Greenpeace ask for?

The environmental campaigners called on Facebook to switch to 100 per cent renewable energy.

So what's happening now?

Facebook has announced that it plans to invest in renewable energy, and move away from coal power. It has also committed to develop programmes with Greenpeace that will help its users save energy and make greener energy decisions.

Just to be clear, has Facebook stopped using coal yet?

No, but as of yesterday Facebook now has a policy that states its preference for access to cleaner, renewable energy supplies for any of its future data centres.

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