All eyes are on Rob Bernard, Microsoft’s new chief environmental strategist, as he tries to green up the company, its products, and the world. In an interview, he discusses energy alternatives, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Tool, and software’s green potential.

By Fred Albert

November 30, 2007

On November 1, Rob Bernard became Microsoft’s first chief environmental strategist, responsible for overseeing the company’s environmental policies as they relate to operations, products, and global leadership. A 10-year veteran of the company and a 42-year-old father of two, Bernard most recently served as general manager for ISV Relationships, a role he held for three years before assuming his current post. He spoke with Inside Track’s Fred Albert.

Inside Track: Why did you want this job?

Bernard: I think there’s a significant opportunity for Microsoft to show how software can help companies, consumers, and governments around the world address environmental challenges.

Inside Track: Do you think software’s potential in this regard is misunderstood?

Bernard: Not so much misunderstood as not obvious. We have [made] some great power management enhancements and improvements to Windows Vista and also to Windows Server. And so we have an opportunity and an obligation to help our customers really understand the great work that we’ve done and use these features to improve their power management or IT infrastructure. In addition, software can provide huge insight into inefficiencies in operations that often result in increased pollution and poor utilization of resources such as water and energy; so I can simultaneously drive down my operational costs and my pollution levels.

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