Juniper understands that there is still a long way to go to achieve optimal energy efficiency, but it is definitely committed to taking steps to get there – on all levels. The company takes a hard look at its own energy consumption and has various initiatives in place to try to reduce its carbon footprint, from instituting eco-friendly policies and practices in their business to promoting responsible business practices beyond Juniper in their worldwide supply chain.

The measures can be quick and simple, such as placing window film on windows and replacing transformers and heating and air conditioning units with more efficient systems, to long term projects that have infinitely more complexity, such as working towards the adoption of the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct (EICC) in all suppliers.

Some of the more innovative activities include partnering with local energy providers to quickly reduce electric load and improve power reliability during critical periods of high energy demand; powering down racks of equipment in its data centres when they are not in use; leveraging its own remote, secure access solutions to implement telecommuting policies and evaluating the elimination of small remote offices in favour of home-based offices to reduce commuting pollution and congestion.

Success of these activities can be measured in many ways. Last year, at its corporate headquarters facility in Sunnyvale, Calif., Juniper reduced its emissions (Electrical and Natural Gas) from 17,374.38 metric tons of carbon in 2005 to 14,884.66 in 2006 (down 14 percent), while simultaneously growing headcount worldwide from 4,100 to 5,000 (22 percent increase).

In Amsterdam, 17 percent of its power came from green power sources (nuclear, wind, solar). In 2006, Juniper was one of the first companies to be recognised by Santa Clara County and the city of Sunnyvale, Calif. as a Green Business.

Juniper maintains compliance with WEEE and RoHS Directives in the European Union, which have strict guidelines on recycling end-of-life products.

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