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Google to Convert HQ to Solar Power
This undated 3-D rendering provided by Google Inc. shows a high-tech Mecca nicknamed the "Googleplex" that the Internet search leader plans to build in Silicon Valley. Google believes the sun eventually can deliver as much as 30 percent of the power at its 1-million-square-foot campus in Mountain View, a suburb located about 35 miles south of San Francisco. (AP Photo/Google Inc.)
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- Public Discussion (57)
Just the other day I was thinking that Google is just getting too big of a footprint in our lives and was getting worried about their corporate mentality and then they do something smart and progressive like this. Good for them.
I am still cautious though.
- 11 votes
#1 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:14 AM EDTOur Google overlords sensed you thinking that and to keep you happy and not thinking for yourself, started this project.
I'm just kidding. I love Google and it's awesome that they're doing this.
- 1 vote
I think they are just trying to divert attention from their compromised values in the case of China.
It is a positive, but advancing China protectionist empire by stifling human rights is enough for me not to use their product.
THEIR FOORTPRINT IS ON THE HEAD OF THE AVERAGE CHINESE.
- 1 vote
So you use no search engines at all? Both Microsoft and Yahoo have also kowtowed, you know.
I would also hope that you buy nothing made in China as well. Which means I wonder what sort of computer you are using to access Newsvine...
- 7 votes
I would also hope that you buy nothing made in China as well. Which means I wonder what sort of computer you are using to access Newsvine...
And what clothers you're wearing, shoes on your feet, what type of toaster you use, microwave, and the list goes on....
- 3 votes
*Joins Aine in cheering*
Although this won't really set an example, since other monopolistic companies like Microsoft and Apple and too money-hungry to care about the environment, hopefully more smaller businesses (from cafes to ISPs) will start taking note.
I wonder how many more solar panels they could have installed had they not brought out YouTube... ;)
- 2 votes
#3 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:02 AM EDTI was wondering if they're going to do the same thing at the data center they're going to build in Michigan. I'll be watching...
*grin*
- 1 vote
Hopefully they'll do it from the off -- that way it will cost them less and will pay itself off much quicker.
Do send pictures over if they do!
Actually Microsoft has one of the largest solar panel systems in silicon valley.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/apr06/04-21SolarPowerPR.mspx
It's good to know MSFT has some good aspects worth copying :-)
- 2 votes
If it pays for iteself in 5 years then is a benefit, the big companies should jump all over it. Easy money, most of their plans are for greater than 5 year returns already so it should be a no-brainer.
I don't understand why Google is limiting it to 30% if it's going to reduce cost that much, why not make it 100%. I would seriously doubt the difference in initial cost is going to eat away too much of their $10 billion. The only thing I can think of is they simply don't have the real estate size there to produce more than 30%. If they combine that with sourcing the rest of their power from solar/wind producers that would be the best as long as it really is saving money.
- 2 votes
I don't understand why Google is limiting it to 30% if it's going to reduce cost that much, why not make it 100%.
Size. Getting 30% of your total energy requirements for a high-tech firm (think: lots of computers running all the time...) is a major accomplishment, and will require a ton of panels (9,200 according to the article.) They simply wouldn't have the *space* to put enough solar panels to run 100% of their power. Unfortunately, solar panels aren't very efficient.
- 1 vote
Solar panels have about 20% effeciency, so as tcervo said, it'll be very hard to run 100% of their data centre on solar panels alone.
Next thing Google will invest in will be silent wind power generators :P
- 1 vote
Next thing Google will invest in will be silent wind power generators :P
All we need to do is install one of those things in Washington while Congress is in session and we could power the world.
- 2 votes
No -- we need a massive second-hand-smoke converter. That'll do it. :D
- 1 vote
go green google its nice to see the corporate giant thinking of alternate energy means , this augments well for the US solaor energy industry
#4 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:20 AM EDTI hope Apple will follow suit with the construction of their second Apple Campus — it's an excellent opportunity to include solar power, as the building is yet to be designed :)
- 1 vote
#5 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:10 AM EDTThis is just like a movie - they make us love them, then they rape us from behind.
*takes off tinfoil hat*
I must say, they don't give us too many reasons to dislike them, do they. This will be quite a great accomplishment once it is complete, and hopefully it catches on. Who says we need government to promote more eco-friendly business?
- 3 votes
#6 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:26 AM EDTWell, for starters, you'd need a different government for that anyway. The Bush administration is notorious for its wasteful tactics, environment-unfriendly policies and what not.
At least the Hybrids are getting a nice Gov't-approved subsidy… guess they ain't all bad ;)
- 1 vote
I'd like to see Capitol Hill go eco-friendly... be the example.
- 1 vote
Google really is the Luke Skywalker of the Corporate World.
- 3 votes
#7 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 6:10 AM EDTIBT, NEA, SEIU or maybe AFL/CIO you know the forces of Empire.
- 1 vote
Uh.... how can Microsoft run on Solar Energy? If they could figure out a way to convert cloud cover into energy.... hmmmm... okay really not the point.
- 2 votes
Uh.... how can Microsoft run on Solar Energy? If they could figure out a way to convert cloud cover into energy.... hmmmm... okay really not the point.
The Microsoft campus that has a few solar panels is in Mountain View, CA...Not too far from Google...
Fantastic, this is what the alternative energy movement needs, large-scale installations that support the alternative energy companies, allow for refining the technology, and also make good business sense. Way to go, Google! Apple, take note! Everyone else, too, especially the Government.
- 2 votes
#8 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:15 AM EDTIf all the other major corporations were to follow the great example set by Google the prices of installing solar cells would fall dramatically. The government will only be able to stop subsidies when economies of scale make the product cheaper. If they were to pass a law requiring all new build properties to be solar powered (at least in part) prices would soon fall to the point where everyone could afford to do it.
Good on Google, a bit of environmental awareness is a nessesary thing in this day and age.
- 1 vote
#9 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:16 AM EDTmore demand would not decrease the price, better technology to meet more demand might.
- 1 vote
And more demand for the product would be the only way for anyone to try and create better technology to meet more demand, so more demand indirectly equals a decrease in price, in this case.
- 1 vote
Not that long ago, but hey feel free to question my intelligence, I know i'm questioning yours right now.
News flash, the demand is already there, which is why there is a VAST amount of Venture Capital going into any solar company with brains. In fact, there is a backlog because the technology isn't there for solar companies to produce enough solar panels to meet demand. But you obviously knew this, because you've recently studied economics eh robbie?
If every major corporation were to follow Google's example, you'd have a large demand for the very small number of solar panels out there, price goes up. You can't just throw money in the air and say economies of scale, it takes time, and technology. It won't happen overnight. Increased demand will not lead to a decrease in price, better technology may lead to the decrease in price. Increased demand leads to a increase in price. I think thats first year economics, but hey, since you're the one studying it, you tell me.
- 2 votes
Very nice! Just one more reason to love Google! And I love the Google Earth photo, too. :-)
- 1 vote
#10 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:34 AM EDTEver since I was a kid getting all scorched in the sun, I've wondered why we didn't use all those cool panels I saw on the Discovery channel. My father said there was no need for it, and it'd never work.
HA HA. I win that argument 10 years later, Dad.
- 3 votes
#11 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:57 AM EDTFantastic. I hope they also contribute to research for further developing the technology.
- 3 votes
#12 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:27 AM EDTGood stuff, Google. I already held them in high regards as a company for their work practices. Ever wonder how the cool new things they develop in the "Google Labs" get started? Google has a policy encouraging employees to spend a certain percentage of their time at work "playing" with whatever tickles their fancy. If they come up with something they think is cool/useful, they show it around the office. If it gains some traction, it goes into the Lab for further development...Many of the cool Google tools we now have were started this way. No upper management directives or long boring meetings...just smart employees having the freedom to do what they want.
- 1 vote
#13 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:33 AM EDTgood for google, I wonder if they went with a paperless office.
- 2 votes
#14 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:04 PM EDTThis is great news. Something for Google.org to talk about. Anyone hear about that by the way? Apparently it will be a for-profit charity! Awesomeness. Probably.
- 2 votes
#15 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:42 PM EDTThis is what happens when you have too much money to spend.
Google, i'm telling you this is going to bit you in your ass someday.
They have so much money and they aren't using it right. Gobbling up YouTube and installing Solar Panels,what a perfect opporitunity to throw away some money.
They're going to get sued out of their ass when they can't live up to the demands of the video and record companies for copyright infringment and when they have no money left, along with their stock going to fall in the future, they're going to blame it on lavish spendings such as this Solar Panel Project.
- 1 vote
#16 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:01 PM EDTA Return to Older Energy Debates:
Solar panels are a really good investment. Especially with newer solar technology that came out this year. The panels are more efficient than ever (prices will drop once mass-mass-production kicks in). Importing energy from a power plant to your home will probably get more expensive. Energy companies are even subsidising energy conservation efforts--because they know they can't provide enough power in the near future.
I'd buy some solar panels myself, but I don't have a house or anywhere to put them at.
- 2 votes
I wish it were true that residential solar panels are a good investment. I recently bought/built a house, but it still wasn't economical to put solar panels of any sort on it. I spent 3 months trying to find some way shape or form to afford doing so but in all cases it would not break even. The cost divided out by the savings over the projected lifespan never matched.
The only way it works elsewhere is through tax breaks, or other government incentives not the technology itself. In the most optimistic of projections it would take 10-15 years to break even and that's under the super assumption that there was zero maintenance cost over the entire period.
- 4 votes
Very interesting news, and I'm sure a bonus to the California power grid. Granted, overall it's a small piece of the pie, but anything that reduces peak load on the grid is worthwhile.
- 2 votes
#17 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:05 PM EDTAs great as this is, Google just seems to be on a PR blitz right now. They're taking as much publicity as they can get. Youtube? Check. Solar Power? Check. Within one week? Check. They've already made huge waves in the stock market... What else do they plan on doing?
Though like I said, the switch is most definately welcomed.
- 1 vote
#18 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:58 PM EDTThis is just hinting at the future...after they own all of the earth (Google Earth, as it shall be known), they plan on buying the sun. I love Google.
- 4 votes
#19 - Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:20 PM EDTSo, if my math skills hold up (no guarantees about that), the Googleplex uses as much electricity as 30,000 homes! That's a lot of jigawatts!
#20 - Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:30 AM EDTI dont see how you did that math. The only numbers i see are 30% of their power supply, and one thousand homes. One thousand divided by .3 = 3333.33 homes.
Thats just the googleplex though, their server farms use considerably more power.
- 2 votes
There's a video on Google techtalks about a cheap, clean, nuclear option. Maybe they'll mix nuclear energy in with the solar stuff.
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