Little Miss Enviro Geek : Microsoft Events

Some personal news...

biwirth — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:24:00 GMT

Hello Dear Blog Readers,

(hmmm....that kinda sounds like the beginning of one of those SPAM emails)

I wanted to let you all know I am moving on from Microsoft and shall no longer be blogging here. I'll be moving an archive of these posts to my website http://www.greenitstrategy.com and shall continue blogging there on Green IT.

So what will I be doing now?

Well, I have decided to take some time off, write a book and maybe look into starting my own business. Regardless, you can always catch me through my website and please do feel free to visit me there.

Thank you to everyone who contacted me with their Green IT questions over the past two years and gave me feedback. I really appreciate your support and good luck with your own Green IT initiatives.

Kind Regards,

Bianca AKA Little Miss Enviro Geek

**ATTN: Aussie businesses.Visit Microsoft US on a mission to "green" IT

biwirth — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:08:56 GMT

Austrade and Microsoft have announced a less-than-covert mission to visit Microsoft US offices for a three day intensive boot camp on Green IT and innovation. The event is targeted at Australian businesses with innovative software technology and solutions that:

improve energy efficiency
address climate change and disaster management
enable green IT

and have:

a proven track record of selling technology solutions in Australia and offshore
reference sites
financial and management commitment to exporting.

You will meet and get access to industry executives at Microsoft, gain an understanding of how to position your company with future technologies like cloud computing, and discuss innovation and technology in panel sessions. As there are limited seats, applicants will be reviewed by a panel of industry leaders based on their alignment to the above points.

The cost is $4,140.00 which includes transportation in the US and the Austrade service fee for developing, managing and implementing the event. It doesn't include flights or accommodation.

For full details, check out: http://www.austrade.gov.au/EventViewBookingDetails.aspx?Bck=Y&EventID=2033

Announcement: Green IT session @ TechEd Australia

biwirth — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:38:00 GMT

If you are attending TechEd Australia this year, come in and see my session on “Understanding Environmental Sustainability with Microsoft”

The session will be on 3^rd September from 10:15-11:45am.

Brief Description: Ever wanted to know where Microsoft stands on the whole "Green IT" topic? Attend this broad technology session to understand how Microsoft perceives Green IT & what Microsoft technologies techies can use to 'become greener'. Bianca will cover both general and specific actions you can take and illustrate with examples in use by Microsoft today, both at Tech.Ed and in everyday use.

I'll be covering topics ranging such as Windows Server 2008, HyperV & Vista Power Management, using SCCM 2007 to configure power savings, thin versus thick, data centre efficiency and what Microsoft does in this space.

I’d love to meet you and have a chat around your initiatives in this space... J

Microsoft: Green TechReady, Green Partner conference, Green TechEd...

biwirth — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:11:00 GMT

Within Microsoft recently we have undertaken a number of initiatives to make our events more environmentally friendly. At TechReady, an event for internal softies to attend, they have published a number of initiatives, including:

All attendees will be given a reusable water bottle to fill at water cooler stations throughout the TechReady venues. Biodegradable cups will also be available at each water cooler station.
The majority of conference-created collateral, including pocket guides and notepads, will be printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper (processed chlorine-free, printed with vegetable-based ink).
Badge holders will be collected at the end of the event to be reused at future TechReady events.
The Conference Store will be stocking a variety of environmentally friendly merchandise.
Prizes for evaluation completion will include various solar-power gadgets.
Air-conditioning/heating and lighting will be minimized during off-hours to minimize power consumption.
Disposable plates and bowls utilized during certain meal times are made of 100% organically-grown bamboo, a renewable and biodegradable material. Cups, napkins and boxed lunch containers are also made with biodegradable and recycled materials.
Menus will incorporate a variety of locally-grown and organic ingredients. Left-over food will also be donated to area food banks.

They had a similar initiative last year which resulted in:

Recycled 14,240 pounds of mixed paper, glass, cans and plastic
Recycled 12,400 pounds of cardboard
Diverted 26,400 pounds of organic waste from the landfill and sent to compositing facility
Saved 38,000 disposable water bottles from the waste stream
5,000 pounds of leftover food was donated to the Farestart program for those in need
Nearly 700 badge holders were collected for reuse

At the Microsoft Australia Partner Conference this year, we have an award for Environment and Sustainability Solutions based on the Microsoft Platform. Check out Nick Mayhew’s Partner blog for details – judging will commence soon so if you are a partner, get your submissions in!

And finally in Australia at TechEd 2008 we are planning our own environmentally friendly initiatives – more announcements in this space soon!!!

Although some people might argue this is all contributing to greenwashing, I personally think that if Microsoft can improve the environmental efficiency of their events, it’s a huge boon for everyone, from the people that receive the unused food from the events (homelessness is a massive problem everywhere), to the attendees who can also feel good about recycling and reusing.