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High on a Hill

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by Hillary Chan, Malaysia


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Dell is carbon neutral!

Aug 10, 2008 02:57


Last week, I was told that Dell intends to be carbon neutral by 2009. Being carbon neutral means none of Dell's manufacturing plants and offices are emitting any carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

This is done by employing techniques that absorb carbon dioxide so it is not emitted.

Two days ago, I received news that Dell has already achieved its goal of being carbon neutral!

According to Dell, it has purchased green power from utility providers such as wind, solar and methane gas capture since 2004. These purchases have increased from 12 million kWh to 116 million kWh.

At this moment, Dell's global headquarters campus is powered by 100 percent green energy. Dell is also making additional investments in wind power in the US, China and India.

I feel so proud that one of my favorite tech brands can now claim to be carbon neutral. But before I pop the champagne, I must admit that the press release is vague about whether this carbon neutrality applies to all Dell offices and manufacturing facilities worldwide or only to Dell's global headquarters in Texas.

I doubt it is the former as green energy is not easily available in most countries, including Malaysia. It will be cool if Dell's manufacturing facility in Penang is completely carbon neutral, though. That way, we can be assured that when we purchase a Dell product, it was definitely made without causing any harm to the environment.



4 comments   |   Share


 

    Talkback
mman74 says...
I know I make a lot of antagonistic posts, but does anyone else feel that Carbon neutrality is a load of marketing driven horse manure?
The motivation I assume is that marketers know that given 2 equally specced and priced machines, most people would opt for the brand that was labelled "Carbon Neutral". It's like a company can poison the entire Pearl Delta River, wipe out several species and raze entire rain forests, but receive a public-opinion baptism atoning all their sins because they are "Carbon Neutral". And all of this is made possible because of dodgy carbon accounting 'standards' that would have made the Enron auditors proud.
Now I like and frequently buy Dell, because their price to performance is competitive whilst the quality is often decent. In my view however, Dell's management needs to take the lead with carbon neutrality in their marketing department by either banning all breathing or giving the whole department the axe - whichever is easier.

Aug 11, 2008 14:27
 
 
Hillary says...
I doubt Dell is going to take your advice to ban breathing but I agree that there a proper audit will further strengthen any company's claim of being carbon neutral.

Aug 11, 2008 17:10
 
 
juniper says...
yo yo, i thot carbon neutral doesn't mean no carbon emissions? This site defines it as thus. "You might think that carbon neutral simply means that something does not release any carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is true to an extent, however it is too simple a definition. It is possible to release CO2 into the atmosphere and still be carbon neutral, so long it is balanced by a CO2 reduction elsewhere." Link here ezinearticles.com...

Aug 12, 2008 17:24
 
 
Hillary says...
Good point Juniper.

The definition that I got is from dictionary.com but if it rules out emitting any carbon dioxide, I don't think any one can ever claim to be carbon neutral.

Doesn't seem like there's a standard definition to Carbon Neutral at this moment. Even the one from EzineArticles.com have more than one definiton,

"Alternatively, the term carbon neutral can be used to describe energy that does not cause the release of any CO2 at all. For instance, solar cells, wind turbines and hydroelectric turbines generate electricity without releasing CO2. Nuclear power does not release CO2 during the generation process either."

Aug 12, 2008 22:23
 
 
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About Hillary Chan


Hillary loves people and nature and enjoys blogging about using technology to better manage our planet.


She appreciates any help to write a better eco-tech blog so feel free to email her any stories and/or events related to green technology.


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