[HCoop-Discuss] EnvironmentalPolicy

[David W. Bettis]

It came to mind that if we're going to pay carbon credits for:
* Hosting our server (Peer1)

Might it also be the right thing to pay for carbon used in the following 
fixed costs:
* Manufacturing the server (Intel/AMD, countless circuit manufacturers)
* The energy used to refine the resources
* The energy used to extract the resources  to manufacture the server 
(mining firms)

Might it also be the right thing to pay for carbon used in the following 
services:
* Some fraction of the power used to maintain any router touched by any 
packet originating to/from Hcoop (backbone providers, lots of tier-3 ISPs)
* Carbon used in facilitating any financial transactions (Wells Fargo & 
Paypal)

This is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, because I don't believe anyone is 
really suggesting this.  But where do we draw the line?

Nathan Kennedy wrote:
> I had previously discussed environmental policy here and in #hcoop and
> got some positive feedback, but Adam wanted me to bring it up on the
> list again before we act on it.
>
> The immediate action I want to take is to have HCoop buy wind energy
> credits from NativeEnergy to offset its electricity consumption at
> Peer1.  At our current level the 5000 megawatt per annum level at $4
> per month would suffice.  I previously pledged to donate the first
> year's worth of credits to the co-op, so this will not cost members
> for a year, and thereafter it should continue to cost well under $0.05
> per month per member.
>
> I think this is important and beneficial for many reasons, outlined at
> EnvironmentalPolicy on the wiki, and I propose that the board adopt
> all the proposals at that page as official HCoop policy henceforth.
>
> First, there is the Rochedale Principle of social responsibility and
> the basic moral principle of cleaning up after ourself.  Hosting is a
> fairly clean business; the two biggest environmental costs are
> hardware disposal and dirty electricity generation.
>
>  From a less altruistic perspective, the tiny cost of going totally
> green presents a great marketing opportunity.  We can use green-e and
> NativeEnergy tags, join the EPA Green Energy Partnership, be listed in
> green business directories, and just generally attract interest as not
> only a unique cooperative providing great service at great value, but
> wind-powered too.
>
> That's about all I have to say for now.  If anyone has any questions
> or comments please do reply to the list.
>
> -ntk
>
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