Google Commits $150 Million Into Renewable Energy For Manufacturing

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

Google is committing $150 million into renewable energy as a way to keep its focus on making products with clean energy. Google’s Head of Sustainability, Anna Meegan, explains that her job is to integrate sustainability into podcasts, operations, and communities. This will be the centerpiece of how Google does business. Examples of how these goals are being met can be found in Google’s latest Environmental Report.

All of these things come as part of Google’s Sustainability Commitments. “This is how we will achieve our ambition to leave people, the planet and our communities better than we found them.”

By 2020, Google wants 100% of all shipments going to or from customers to be carbon neutral. In 2020, the company also wants 100% of Made by Google products to include recycled materials. Google wants to increase its use of recycled content to the max possible. Google also wants to make technology that puts people first and expands access to technology’s benefits.

Google says that it hopes to continue on the path it is on — integrating sustainability into its products and pushing itself to do more and do so faster. However, Google wants to do more than just build products like Nest with recycled products. This is why it is investing $150 million into renewable energy projects in its key manufacturing regions. Google’s commitment will reportedly help transform $1.5 billion of capital into renewable energy. It will generate as much electricity from renewable energy that it uses to create Google’s hardware products.

Investing millions is just part of Google’s plan to help the world become a better place. Google has been completely carbon neutral for over a decade. In 2018, it matched 100% of the electricity consumption of its global operations with renewable energy. It hopes to raise the bar for using Earth’s resources wisely, coupled with high expectations of ethical standards throughout its supply chain. In Google’s 2019 Environmental Report, it also said that it is always looking for ways to have a positive environmental impact and be more responsible in its use of energy, water, and natural resources and wants to help others do the same.

google
Chart from Google’s 2019 Environmental Report.

Some Stats from Google’s 2019 Environmental Report

  • Google’s the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy. It has signed 24 agreements that totaled more than 3.75 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity.
  • In 2018, Google matched 100% of its electricity consumption with renewable energy purchases.
  • Google has been carbon neutral for 12 years — since 2007.
  • Since 2010, Google has invested $1.5 billion in renewable energy projects.

Its renewable energy purchasing contracts have led to $5 billion in new capital investments in worldwide renewable energy projects. So, with each commitment, there is growth. Google reminds all of us that every small decision we make on a day to day basis counts. Whether you choose to bring your own bags to the store, walk instead of drive — all of these choices place us on a path to a cleaner future.

One question, though: how long until Google’s global vehicle fleet is 100% electric?


Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest CleanTechnica TV Video


Advertisement
 
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.

Johnna Crider

Johnna owns less than one share of $TSLA currently and supports Tesla's mission. She also gardens, collects interesting minerals and can be found on TikTok

Johnna Crider has 1996 posts and counting. See all posts by Johnna Crider