April 18, 2008—Dell reports that it is now powering 100 percent of its 2.1 million square-foot global headquarters campus in Texas, home to more than 10,000 employees, with 100 percent green power, the latest step in meeting the company’s 2008 commitment to become carbon neutral.
Dell is using all of the power generated from Waste Management‘s Austin Community Landfill gas-to-energy plant, meeting 40 percent of Dell headquarters’ campus power needs. The remaining 60 percent comes from existing wind farms and is provided by TXU Energy.
Dell also announced that it is increasing green power use for its Austin Parmer Campus, provided by Austin Energy, from eight to 17 percent. The company is a leading participant in Austin Energy’s GreenChoice power program. Dell is also powering its Twin Falls, Idaho, facility with 100 percent green power, 97 percent of which is wind power and three percent solar.
In September 2007, Dell announced it would make company-owned and -leased facilities carbon neutral in 2008 through a strategy of improving energy efficiency in its operations and maximizing the purchase of renewable power. The company’s climate strategy also seeks to minimize carbon impact of supplier operations and customer product use, including Dell’s green technology solutions.
Operational initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce electricity use already implemented on Dell’s central Texas campuses are expected to save the company nearly $2 million annually in operating costs and cut CO2 equivalent emissions by nearly 12,000 tons per year. The purchase of green power gives Dell price certainty on its operational costs for power, and the company expects it may see cost benefits to using green power in the future.
For more information about Dell’s environmental initiatives, visit the Dell Earth Web site.
