Today, Microsoft released the results of a comparative carbon footprint study which found significant environmental benefits to providing its software to consumers online. The study concluded that downloading Office 2007 avoided 8 times the amount of carbon emissions compared to producing and shipping a DVD and its associated packaging through traditional retail distribution channels. The study determined that carbon emissions avoided through online purchasing of 10 million copies is equivalent to:the electric consumption of 7,715 US households, or 13,008 passengers cars driven in one year, or 231 acres of avoided Amazon rainforest deforestation. Microsoft worked with its partners, Accenture and WSP Environment & Energy, to apply leading standards for product carbon footprinting in accounting for greenhouse gas emissions arising from the complete lifecycle of its software products. Based on several distribution scenarios, the study captures carbon emissions associated with the raw... - Iggy Mwangi