The widespread popularity of Facebook and other Internet sites within the past few years now not only provides instant communication but has become a means of spreading awareness of global causes. Greenbook, a recently created Facebook application, claims to offset CO2 emissions caused by computer and server use.
When Facebook users install the Greenbook application, money is generated through sponsorship: This month’s sponsor, The Experience Project, has donated enough to offset 104,369 pounds of CO2. According to Greenbook’s application Web site, the money is used to buy forward strips on Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC) from Sun Run Generation LLC. Greenbook was created by Brent Charbonneau, an 2006 alumnus of the University of Ottawa, who was unavailable for comment.
Many Facebook users see this as a good way to create change and spread awareness through a widely used medium.
“It’s a very clever idea,” said junior Kyle Cotler in an e-mail. “I’m a pretty lazy person, but I do care deeply for the environment. People need only add Greenbook to their profiles and they are inadvertently reducing CO2 emissions.”
Greenbook’s Web site includes many features, such as a link called “Green Ideas,” where users can post other tips for environmentally-friendly living which are voted on and receive percentages of daily amounts of CO2 removal. Users can find out how much CO2 offset they have generated by their participation in Greenbook, as well as which of their Facebook friends are most active in using Greenbook.
“I think the web is a wonderful resource for discovering new ways to be green,” said sophomore Emily Baker in an e-mail. “Do we necessarily have the time or take the time to look up policies and research ways to reduce our personal impacts on the earth? Probably not: but the tidbits provided by Greenbook (which of course we make time to check) keep us mindful of our action.”
Sophomore Camila Thorndike had a slightly different reaction to Greenbook and expressed her wish to be more actively involved in change.
“A Facebook group is not going to change the world,” said Thorndike. “Our generation was raised with e-communication, and we’ve developed a bit of a laissez-faire attitude because of this. Real and lasting change must involve direct action through political avenues and more traditional activist tactics. Greenbook should be the icing on the cake for the real work.”
Thorndike said she added the application because it is “some sort of positive action.” “My philosophy is that if it’s going to help, why not? It’s certainly not doing anything harmful or detrimental. I think Greenbook’s effect at the moment is negligible, but if everyone added it: who knows?”
Cotler, Baker and Thorndike all emphasized the simplicity and ease that Internet sites such as Greenbook afford.
“I think it’s a pretty useful utility because it’s simple, unobtrusive and rewarding,” said Cotler. “It speaks loudly for our generation and culture. Gone are the days of protests and chaining ourselves to trees. Now with a simple push of a button we are capable of doing nothing and something at the same time.”
