How Microsoft Can Go “Carbon Negative”

The Jan 17^th Seattle Times front page article “Microsoft sets sights on hitting carbon negative” details how they intend to be “carbon negative" within the decade, using its "technology, money, and influence to drive down carbon emissions across the economy".   However if Microsoft really wants to reduce carbon emissions it doesn’t take a decade, technology, or influence for them to reduce local carbon emissions.

They can begin doing so in a year by dramatically increasing their Connector service for employees.  The April 12^th 2009 Seattle Times reported 3000 daily trips were taken by Microsoft employees on the 53 Connectors buses' nineteen routes.  Their Connector routes could be expanded beyond whatever improvements they’ve made since then to where 30,000 to 40,000 employees are able to use the routes. 

The resulting reduction in carbon emissions would likely offset much of, if not more than, what Microsoft’s  "own operations and its supply chain emit each year.” They could further reduce emissions with electric powered vans and buses.  And they could begin doing so within a year.

Microsoft could initially establish routes for vans or buses to within walking distance of where workers live with compatible schedules or whose schedules could be revised to fit routes.  Microsoft could add Connector routes or contract with Sound Transit to provide vans or buses for the routes during peak commute.  

Microsoft could later decide to construct their own park and ride lots with express bus routes to Redmond campus.  The costs for doing so would probably be less than what their underground parking on campus will cost.  As with current Connector service the added routes could be provided with Wi-Fi access to make commute time “productive time”.

Not only would each bus eliminate carbon emissions from 40-50 vehicles, any east side resident needing to use the area roadways from West Lake Samammish Blvd to 140^th would no longer encounter huge lines of traffic for several hours every morning and afternoon.  Reducing their emissions and providing a welcome relief for many from a recent Bellevue survey report 64% of residents considered traffic problems as their major concern.

Again  it doesn’t take a decade, technology, or influence (moonshot?) for Microsoft to become “carbon negative”.  A November 2017 GoGo website detailed how every day over 34,000 Silicon Valley employees are transported to their jobs by well-known companies such as Apple, Google, and Facebook. That’s who Microsoft should emulate, reducing carbon emissions as well as east side congestion.