Telstra sees opportunities from global warming

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 20 November 2007 10:10

IT Industry - Deals

Trujillo said Telstra had a good environmental record, was Australia's largest private sector user of solar power and had recently implemented several internal measures that had cut greenhouse gasses. It has reduced vehicle fuel consumption by five percent and increased productivity by 15 percent by installing GPS; used energy management programs to save the equivalent annual greenhouse gas emissions of 2,225 Australian homes; and reduced office paper consumption from 9 to 7.4 reams-per-staff-member.

"Telstra is also using new 'in-person' video-conferencing in place of many face-to-face meetings. Last year, nearly 7,500 video conferences lasting nearly 20,000 hours saved around 4,200 tonnes in travel carbon emissions," Trujillo said.

Telstra claims that Sensis moves to encourage recycling have led to 95 percent of households recycling their directories. Telstra is installing a renewable energy centre in its Exhibition Street, Melbourne building. It will feature a grid interactive solar array, Hydrogen Fuel cells, wind turbine and Telstra's Next G wireless technology.

Telstra has produced an official response to the report. However it does not spell out any new initiatives Telstra intends to take as a result. Rather, Telstra says: "We recognise that business and governments alike - including airline, energy, banking, insurance, mining and construction companies - are already seeking new ways to reduce or offset carbon emissions. This report sits alongside and hopefully contributes to these other initiatives. Analysis and further ideas are welcome so that a deeper understanding can be developed into how telecommunications can enable energy conservation and the reduction of GHG emissions."

The full report and much additional information are available on Telstra's web site.