Software can do so much to make our lives easier but it can do more than just that. Virgin Atlantic is using it to not only make things easier but also to help reduce their carbon footprint in a big way. Their fuel saving software named the OSyS Fuel Efficiency System went live in July of 2012 and allows them to accurately monitor at over 300 different points on each and every flight. Being able to review their fuel use in this manner has enabled them to save money to the tune of an estimated £20 million annually but that’s not all. It also makes it possible for them to cut out 92,000 tons of carbon which will make a huge difference in the environment.
Microsoft is also taking big steps to reduce their carbon footprint by selling their software online, via web download, a decision that has shrunk the product’s carbon footprint by 88% when you compare it to the alternative which would be producing, packaging, and actually shipping a physical DVD. Not only does it reduce the environmental impact, it also saves both Microsoft and the customer money and the customer can have the item they want nearly immediately. Everybody, and the environment, wins.
