In October 2006, Google announced a commitment to solar energy production and launched the largest solar panel installation to date on a corporate campus in the United States.
Google installed solar panels throughout Googleplex and also installed solar panels in
parking lots. It has installed over 90% of the 9,212 planned solar panels that comprise the 1,600 kilowatt project. The solar panels cover the rooftops of eight buildings and two newly constructed solar carports at the Googleplex.
The installation is projected to produce enough electricity for approximately 1,000 homes or 30 per cent of Google’s peak electricity demand in Googleplex.
The above link gives the daily production of solar power from their rooftops. The power generated today 9,810 kilowatt-hours is equivalent to...
3,567 loads of laundry
20,928 hairdryers for 15 minutes
81,750 hours of flat screen TV watching
40,875 alarm clocks for 24 hours
Ref: Appliance energy consumption data from
Department of Energy
Other companies should follow Google's lead. They can afford it, and it will pay off in the long run.
