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Green power: Running HP Ireland on renewable energy

 

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Wind turbines
 

Overview

  1. »Leading by example
  2. »Bold moves
  3. »HP and the envinronment

HP Ireland is running on almost 90 percent wind power.

Switching to renewable energy sources like wind power makes both environmental and business sense. HP Ireland will save the release of more than 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide this year – equivalent to taking 9,600 cars off the road.

The move helps put HP on track to reduce its worldwide energy consumption 20 percent by 2010.

Airtricity, a renewable energy company developing and operating wind farms across Europe and North America, is supplying 80 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy this year to two HP facilities: in Liffey Technology Park in Leixlip, County Meath, and Ballybrit Business Park in Galway.

Using wind power will save HP Ireland money as well as energy – €40,000 over the year-long contract. Energy costs are one of HP's biggest operational expenditures, and finding ways to reduce both energy costs and usage is a major company priority.

» Leading by example

Martin Murphy, HP Ireland Managing Director and Eddie O'Connor, CEO of Airtricity

Martin Murphy, HP Ireland Managing Director and Eddie O'Connor, CEO of Airtricity

 

HP is collaborating with customers, governments and investors to address the issue of climate change.

Though current trends point in the direction of ever-increasing energy use, recent research also shows that Europe could save at least 20 % of its present energy consumption in a cost-effective manner. HP and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are engaged in a joint initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from HP’s worldwide operating facilities.

“By switching to renewable energy, our operations in Ireland will play an important role in helping to achieve aggressive company targets in reduction and reuse of energy resources as part of HP’s comprehensive energy-efficiency program,” explains Martin Murphy, managing director of HP Ireland.

» Bold moves

 

With the new agreement, HP is now Airtricity’s largest customer. The electricity supplied by Airtricity is generated by both onshore and offshore wind farms. The contract is initially for one year, renewable thereafter.

“HP has boldly set up a ‘Carbon Footprint Challenge’ for its employees in Ireland to help reach a company-wide goal of reducing energy usage by 20 percent before 2010,” notes Eddie O’Connor, CEO of Airtricity. “A partnership with Airtricity will assist the company in reaching this objective.”

WWF and HP will also leverage HP technology to advance the science and practice of adapting to climate change. ''HP will be a vital partner as we address the effects of climate change in some of the world's most important wildlife habitats," says Suzanne Apple, a VP at the World Wildlife Fund.

This is nothing new to HP. In EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), HP facilities have a long history of reducing environmental impact. In Cernusco Sul Naviglio (Italy), Bristol and Dublin, technology in the boiler facilities was upgraded in 2005 to reduce energy use by 1.4 million kWh. HP’s Supplier Code of Conduct – which regulates the IT industry’s largest supply chain – requires that suppliers have environmental policies covering energy efficiency.

» HP and the envinronment

For decades HP has worked to manage its environmental impact by adopting environmentally responsible practices in its product development, operations and supply chain. The company strives to be a global leader in reducing its carbon footprint, limiting waste and recycling responsibly.

More information about HP’s environmental programmes is available at www.hp.com/environment.