Redmond, Washington may be synonymous with Microsoft as the home of its corporate headquarters, but the company’s commitment to increasing energy efficiency is a worldwide endeavor spanning the U.S. and our global offices from Hong Kong to Ireland. Microsoft India recently demonstrated the truth of that claim last month when it was honored with the Environment Management Award at The Green IT Initiative and IT Excellence Awards 2012 for its achievement in driving sustainability through its Green IT initiatives.

Awarded by the Stars of the Industry Group, the honor highlights initiatives taken by Microsoft India to reduce its energy consumption and improve efficiencies within its facilities.

The award-winning initiatives and approaches include:

• Helping customers limit their energy use by leveraging the power management features embedded in Windows 7 and Windows Server 8.
• Reducing Microsoft India’s carbon footprint by collecting and harvesting its rainwater to irrigate the campus and power and cool its building facilities.
• Minimizing travel-related carbon emissions by employing Microsoft’s Unified Communications solutions and its virtual desk sharing features in all of its computers and meeting rooms.
• Introducing and implementing greener IT practices and smarter building management systems to improve the bottom line and lessen its environmental impact.

Congratulations to our Microsoft colleagues in India for earning this much-deserved honor!