Google Ends Search For Corporate Alternative Energy Source
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.17.06
Via EarthTimes.org: - headquarters of "Google Inc. will soon become one of the largest solar powered corporate office complexes in the U.S. by building a solar-powered electricity system at its Silicon Valley..." campus. This comes as no surprise to our regular readers. Reportedly, Google bought its new "Googleplex" campus for $319 million, where it is installing solar panels with a generation capacity of 1.6 megawatts, enough to supply about 30% of projected use at the administrative complex. C02 emissions reduction from the project is projected to be 3.6 million pounds/year (equivalent to 4.28 million car miles/year). "Pasadena-based EI Solutions, that forms a part of a high-tech incubator headed by entrepreneur Bill Gross, is handling the project". If anyone wants to keep track of the project, all they have to do is perform a google satellite map search...unless, of course, a security Dalek declares it off limits. For a 3-D view of the project look below the fold.
From the EI Solutions site: "To maximize energy output, the team assessed every available surface on the Google campus for its viability to hold solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. Eventually, more than 197,000 square feet on top of existing buildings and new parking lot shade structures (designed especially for the project) were fitted with cells using customized mounting hardware".
At least Google is continuing to do less evil than they could.
Mike
Hmm...Fills me with cynicism. Love the solar panels, but hate the sprawl. Because that's one sprawling complex, and the footprint caused thereby (traffic infrastructure, heating/cooling loads, habitat loss) will likely much outweigh the benefits of solar panels.
Don't get me wrong--they're taking a step in the right direction, but then they take a step back, maybe two, with all that sprawl. It sort of reminds me of this earlier post.
We've had so many "gestures" lately, and that's fine, but I'm waiting more and more impatiently for someone to really step up and produce a truly carbon-free solution.
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It is fairly straightforward for a building owner of this scale to include trail links, secure bicycle parking, showers and lockers, connections to mass transit, bus stops, employee incentives for car pooling or mass transit use, hybrid purchase incentives, education on alternatives for reducing lifestyle footprint, etc. Lets see what's up before we pass judgement.
Very nice, is there any Solar Thermal included in the project? I can't find any evidence of it. If they are currently using electric tank storage water heaters, it could be a good reduction in electric load. It would seem a shame to use solar-generated electricity to heat water.
Google is one of the best things that has happened to humanity in a long time.
Tell someone 50 years ago (when simple calculators were expensive) that someday you could search billions and billions of documents, for free, in less than a second.. It's really a democratizing force. Even if they were running on coal they would be a net plus, but it's really cool that they are investing in such a large solar array.
"Very nice, is there any Solar Thermal included in the project?"
They probably can heat all the water they need using waste heat from their server farms :)
I believe that they have to spread out the buildings, versus building them vertically, for earthquakes.
Google is a very visible company, and their initiative should encourage other less concerned companies to at least do something. It all adds up.
It is fairly straightforward for a building owner of this scale to include trail links, secure bicycle parking, showers and lockers, connections to mass transit, bus stops, employee incentives for car pooling or mass transit use, hybrid purchase incentives, education on alternatives for reducing lifestyle footprint, etc.
True, but it's also very common for these measures to go largely unused. Because work's too far away from home to bike; because the community can't support viable public transit. This happens because companies, along with all their neighbours, each individually decide to build "out" instead of "up".
Lets see what's up before we pass judgement.
Point well taken. I wasn't actually trying to pass judgment, or target Google (which is a company I love) particularly; I was reacting spontaneously and wanted to make a point that I feel is perfectly valid and very important. I criticise because I care...
Namely, my point is this: it's very hard to beat compact form and compact compact communities if you want to green your development--minimize your total footprint. They're some of the most powerful measures you can take, but they're unmarketable and often get lost behind the bells and whistles.
What's the expression...like putting lipstick on a pig? That's going too far, and I fully acknowledge that we're in a phase where it's still important to develop those bells and whistles. But I'm starting to get tired of this pig and I guess I decided it was time for an unsolicited reality check...
(Actually since I wrote that comment, I've noticed that Google bought the complex and did not build it, so that's definitely a feather in their cap. But it doesn't really affect my point.)
The way you design a sustainable area is to intentionally make it mixed-use. Paths and buses are fine, but are more like superficial extras compared to a holisticaly created space where people can live, work, play, relax, and get the basic necessities of life.
So, how about if Google designated some of their property to rent out to either independent businesses or non-profit organizations, or coops to set up:
- community gardens
- housing
- grocery stores
- bike shops for sales/service/rentals
- repair services
- body/mind/spirit health centers
- day care/afterschool care
- art/performnance centers
- restaurants
- clothing shops
- electronics shops
- libraries/community sharing clubs
This is obviously much bigger picture thinking than most companies are used to, but it doesn't mean it can't happen if someone wants it to.
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Fine ideas but to put that all in the lap of a single company is a bit much. Local and regional planning commissions, community development foundations, and philanthropy exists for such a purpose. Collaboration makes it happen.
- community gardens
- housing
- grocery stores
- bike shops for sales/service/rentals
- repair services
- body/mind/spirit health centers
- day care/afterschool care
- art/performnance centers
- restaurants
- clothing shops
- electronics shops
- libraries/community sharing clubs
we seem to have forgotten a lot
http://www.portsunlightvillage.com/page.asp?pageid=history
I wouldn't put all the blame on Google for this facility. From what I've seen, it looks like much of Silicon Valley is built in a similar way.
As for sustainable commuting:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2004/05/pedal-power.html
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2004/09/worth-drive.html
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/05/tomorrow-work-that-bike.html
Andrew
There's no denying it; Google has a history of initiating forward-thinking programs, plans and missions. Of course it doesn't hurt that their coffers are flush with Wall Street capital to aid them in their missions of change.
Google's leadership, at this point in time due to their market dominance in their field, provides a corporate role model that others will hopefully want to follow. I think it's important to recognize, acknowledge and appreciate Google's acceptance of "market responsibility" by demonstrating leadership activities that include social and environmental issues.
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Thanks for the well written, insightful comment. Another dimension of Google;'s action is that the 30% suppplied by SPV panels can be used during an electricity outage to keep business-critical work going. Would be interesting to know how much battery or diesel back up was obcviated by the added SPV capacity. There is a definite capital savings involved in this aspect that usually is not figured into to the ROI.
Google is currently in an economic and social position to initiate change that "mature" industries are unable or unwilling to do. Google is well positioned to have a tremendous impact on corporate and social agendas.