Facebook Releases Carbon Footprint

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Facebook on Wednesday released a detailed report on its carbon footprint and the energy mix it used to power its operations for the entire year of 2011. Facebook’s total carbon footprint for the year was about 285,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, or 269 grams per user, according to the company. That’s far less than Google’s 1.46 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent for the same period. 

Facebook also noted that for it’s entire energy consumption for the year, 23 percent came from renewable sources, very close to the company’s goal to have 25 percent of its power be “coal-free” by 2015. However, Facebook also cautioned: “The reality is that as a fast-growing company our carbon footprint and energy mix may get worse before they get better.”

Greenpeace, which is working with Facebook on sustainability efforts and disclosure, applauded the release of the report, stating in a blog post: “The transparency Facebook exhibited today is still rare among companies who are racing to build our online world…”

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