NettApp takes green approach with new Melbourne offices

Peter Dinham
Thursday, 28 May 2009 13:54

IT Industry - Market

Storage and data management vendor, NetApp, has opened new offices in Melbourne, which the company says is testament to the importance of the technology sector to the State’s economy.

NetApp says the environmentally friendly, green building in Bourke Street, in the heart of the city’s CBD, is also testament to the significance of the company’s strong environmental strategy.

Peter O’Connor, area vice president for NetApp Australia and New Zealand, says the company “shares in the global responsibility for protecting and preserving our environment today and for future generations by not only creating energy efficient products, but also by practicing good environmental stewardship.”

According to O’Connor, this includes working with customers to create “energy-efficient data centres; implementing reduce, reuse, recycle programs within our own offices, running energy-management programs throughout all our facilities worldwide to manage power consumption, and options for employees to reduce their travel emissions through telecommuting.”

The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby and the Minister for Information and Communication Technology, John Lenders, officially opened NettApp’s new offices last night, with O’Connor describing their attendance as “testament to the importance of the technology sector to the State’s economy.”

O’Connor said the NetApp office was located in a new building known for its fully integrated approach to sustainability initiatives, commencing at building design, continuing through construction and operation of the building.

“Choosing 550 Bourke Street as the location for our Melbourne office was the obvious choice when we needed new premises for our Melbourne operation.  It allows us to focus on providing an outstanding experience for our customers, whilst maintaining our strong commitment to sustainability.”

According to O’Connor, the building has a 4.5 “Australian Building Greenhouse Rating” (ABGR) energy rating, which, he says, promotes low-energy consumption through highly efficient air conditioning, lighting and lift control systems. The building has also been designed to achieve a 5 star rating in accordance with the Office Design Rating Tool from the Green Building Council of Australia.