by Jason Snell
How Apple got to 100% renewable energy
My former IDG colleague Mark Sullivan, reporting for Fast Company:
Churchill is representative of the growing number of renewable energy sources that have popped up around Apple’s data centers in recent years. Since these massive computing machines use more power than any other kind of Apple facility, the company worked hard to get them powered by 100% renewable energy, reaching that goal in 2014.
Now Apple says it’s finished getting the rest of its facilities running on 100% green power-from its new Apple Park headquarters, which has one of the largest solar roofs on the planet, to its distribution centers and retail stores around the world. Though the 100% figure covers only Apple’s own operations-not those of of the suppliers and contract manufacturers which do much of the work of bringing its ideas to life-it’s also convinced 23 companies in its supply chain to sign a pledge to get to 100% renewable energy for the portion of their business relating to Apple products.
Apple’s primary strategy is to get solar power from plants near its offices and data centers, rather than just buying offsets or carbon credits. It’s an interesting strategy and Sullivan’s article—which features an interview with Apple’s Lisa Jackson—covers it well.