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The greenest summer ever
August 17, 2011
Throughout the course of my 11 week
BOLD internship
I’ve had the amazing opportunity to learn a lot about the intersection of technology and society. Google is a company that prides itself in innovation, not just for the sake of innovation, but also for impacting lives and making the world a better place. This summer I worked on the
green communications team
within
Google.org
. Our team is responsible for communicating Google’s green initiatives, ranging from on-site programs to
data center efficiency
, to investments in renewable energy. During my internship a
story
ran in the
New York Times
that recognized Google as the leader in data center efficiency. Getting national recognition for our efforts to green our operations was a very rewarding experience.
On Google’s campuses there are reminders everywhere that we are taking steps to achieve true sustainability. Many of us arrive to work on biodiesel shuttles. Once we get to campus, there are about 1,000 bikes in our gBike system that we can pick up whenever we need to get to another building. For longer distances and off-campus trips, we have the
Gfleet
, which is made up entirely of plug-in vehicles. Not only did gBikes become my best friend, but so did the compost bins. With micro-kitchens and cafes virtually around every corner, it is was just as easy to recycle or compost my trash as it was to grab a snack (which happened very frequently).
Part of my responsibilities this summer was to produce a script for a video series highlighting Google’s on-campus green initiatives, focusing on clean transportation, sustainable food practices, and eco-friendly buildings. Each installment in the series explores what measures Google is taking to reduce the size of its carbon footprint. The first, on our
green building practices
, went live today:
Prior to my BOLD internship, environmental issues weren’t really on my radar. In fact, it’s embarrassing to admit, but I rarely used recycling bins before this summer. However, after being exposed to a culture that takes pride in creating a sustainable workplace I quickly found an interest and passion for “greening” the globe.
After learning about how composting can drastically reduce the volume of garbage needlessly sent to landfills for disposal, I decided to take Googley action and see how I can make a difference. When I return to the University of Chicago in the fall I plan on conducting research that explores the effects of composting campaigns in low-income communities. Thanks to my BOLD internship I can truly say that I’m now a champion for eco-justice!
Stay tuned! The other videos on our green video series will be rolling out on the
Google Green Blog
over the next few weeks.
Posted by Edward James III, BOLD Intern, Google.org
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