Top 100 CEO Interviews
Issue No. 49 - October/November 2009
Internode sprouts racing green
As Australia struggles to shape a climate-change economy, Adelaide-based national broadband company Internode has already made major investments in environmental responsibility.
Earlier this year, Internode won the Environmental Responsibility Award at the telecommunication
industry’s prestigious ACOMMS awards, which recognised the company for its outstanding initiatives
to address corporate responsibility for sustainability and the environment.
Internode is Australia’s largest privately-owned broadband company and one of the largest
technology employers in SA, with more than 430 employees nationally.
Internode’s national headquarters is an energy-efficient building at 150 Grenfell Street, where it
moved 18 months ago. The company’s energy-saving practices have for years included recycling cardboard boxes and paper as well as sending old computers to metal scrap retailers.
Internode undertook a major greenhouse gas emission audit two years ago, with Australian-founded global carbon reduction company Carbon Planet, in order to offset the effect of its carbon emissions by purchasing 3900 fully-certified carbon credits.
After establishing itself as a carbon-neutral organisation in early 2008, Internode commenced purchasing 100% GreenPower for its national operations from September last year.
Other green initiatives from Internode include reducing power consumption at its data centres by introducing virtualisation technology; using solar-powered microwave towers to deliver broadband throughout SA’s Coorong region; and selling ROHS-compliant routers that meet the world’s strictest environmental standards.
Internode CEO Patrick Tapper says green technologies play an important part in Internode’s planning.
“Environmental responsibility is part of Internode’s competitive advantage,” Patrick says.
“We’re committed to implementing environmentally responsible practic...
