The 2007 JavaOne Conference Becomes Environmentally Friendly

As part of Sun Microsystems' ongoing effort to be more environmentally friendly, the company has created a campaign around conservation for this year's JavaOne conference -- from reducing the number of promotional materials printed on paper to encouraging attendees to bicycle to the Conference. In addition, Sun is collaborating with Moscone Center in San Francisco to expand on the facility's federally recognized and award-winning recycling, conservation, and energy efficiency practices during the Conference.

For past JavaOne conferences, direct-mail paper campaigns were used, but virtual-direct mailings for this year's Conference reduce paper use by approximately 4.63 tons. In addition, by printing the Program Guide and Advanced Conference Guide on recycled paper, Sun reduces its use of wood products by a whopping 34 tons, saving approximately 237 trees.

If this doesn't seem like much, consider that one tree produces approximately 260 pounds of oxygen per year and can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces while driving 26,000 miles. Additionally, a single tree supplies enough oxygen annually for a family of four for one year.

After the Conference, Sun will ask attendees to fill out surveys online instead of on paper. This again will save trees and energy.

The Bike to JavaOne program that Sun successfully launched in 2006 will continue this year. The program promotes environmental responsibility outside the Conference walls by encouraging employees, customers, and partners to bicycle to the event. Sun has also partnered with the San Francisco Bike Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation, to offer a free bike valet service daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in front of Moscone Center's South Hall. San Francisco Bike Coalition staffers will watch over bikes while you attend the Conference.

To show its appreciation and to encourage bikers, Sun will give away water bottles to the first 100 bikers or so. If other companies join in the effort to sponsor the event, they may also give away prizes.From the surveys of bikers last year, and based on the locations from which bikers were traveling, Sun estimates that the 2006 Bike to JavaOne program saved Conference participants from driving 9,361 miles in gas-based vehicles. This represents a significant reduction in gas emissions.

In addition to biking to the Conference, some Sun employees and Conference attendees are finding environmentally friendly ways of getting to San Francisco from around the country. Many are carpooling into the city. Others are taking public transportation, such as the train, bus, BART, or one of the San Francisco Bay Area's ferries, and spending the rest of their time in San Francisco on foot.

Last year, Laureen Hudson, a Sun employee, and her family rode the ferry from their home in Vallejo. But this year, they will sail in on their newly purchased catamaran, the Excellent Adventure. "San Francisco is a fantastic city for boaters. There are so many great public docks and sail-up restaurants. And come on, what's not to love about sailing your own home right up to the city?" says Hudson.

"The Excellent Adventure is berthed in Emeryville, and even being completely across the bay from San Francisco, it's a faster and cleaner commute by sail than by any other option."

Moscone Center itself has taken significant measures in sustainability and environmental friendliness -- from the catering to the air quality, and with the building itself. The center has an innovative food-scrap composting program, and the catering services purchase biodegradable food-service products. Moscone Center regularly monitors and tests air conditions for carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrous oxide. In addition, the center vigorously enforces a ban on smoking.

One of the nation's largest municipally owned solar generation installations now operates from the roof of Moscone Center. The solar component consists of a solar electrical system capable of producing enough power for 550 homes annually. This is accompanied by an extensive retrofit of the lighting system and related energy efficiency measures designed to reduce energy usage without diminishing interior lighting levels.

Moscone Center sits in the heart of the city, with convenient access to local and regional mass transportation. It lies close to nearly 20,000 hotel rooms. With many restaurants and stores within walking distance to meet every traveler's needs, people are driving less and doing a lot more walking to and from the center.

With an increase of 20,000 people or more at Moscone Center working at or attending the JavaOne conference, all of these environmentally friendly measures have a big impact on energy conservation and pollution, and they reduce waste as well.