On Earth Day, Microsoft Window’s Internet Explorer launched Carbon Grove, its first green on-line campaign designed to mobilize internet users to push for aggressive reductions in their carbon footprints. On Monday, June 9, 2008, Microsoft extended the campaign to France and will extend the campaign to Germany and Poland by June 13, 2008. Carbon Grove is a carbon footprint reduction reminder service that empowers users to improve the natural world by reducing their impact on the environment. In addition, users also improve the internet environment by using IE 7 with Dynamic Security Protection. The campaign allows internet users to plant a virtual tree in a virtual forest. Internet Explorer will in turn sponsor the planting of up to 250,000 real trees in deforested regions around the globe with its partner, American Forests. To participate in the campaign, users register at the site and follow the simple steps to plant their virtual tree. If IE7 is not already installed on the user’s machine, they will be able to download it for free. Alternatively, users can download a beta version of Internet Explorer 8. As part of the campaign, Carbon Grove will send weekly reminders on how your virtual tree has grown and become shelter for virtual animals. The weekly email reminder will feature a link to the user’s tree, as well as green tips on ways to save the environment in simple but meaningful steps. To plant your virtual tree and help our eco-system, visit www.carbongrove.com.
