Clean energy initiatives save millions for News Corp: Murdoch

NEW YORK: Global media conglomerate News Corp has saved millions of dollars by improving energy efficiency in its daily operations across businesses, its chief Rupert Murdoch has said.

The media tycoon also stressed that his flagship company's clean energy initiatives spans from "Los Angeles to India".

Murdoch-led News Corp owns a slew of well known media brands including Star, Dow Jones, Fox and Wall Street Journal.

"... despite some of the toughest markets our industry has ever seen, we have saved millions of dollars by improving the energy efficiency of our day-to-day operations," Murdoch wrote in a letter to News Corp employees.

He is chairman and chief executive of the media group. According to him, the company's global data centre consolidation strategy alone would save about $20 million per year.

Murdoch noted energy efficiency projects at the group include automatic PC shut-down and "systemic changes" like installing telepresence and videoconferencing technology to reduce the need for air travel.

"Our support of clean energy - through on-site projects, renewable energy certificates, and carbon credits - spans the globe, from Los Angeles to India," Murdoch said.

For instance, News Corp's UK businesses procures 100 per cent of their electricity from renewable sources. The company has also become "carbon neutral across all of our global operations".

Among various initiatives, Fox Entertainment developed robust carbon foot printing standards and tools for film, television, sports and event production.

"Most recently, we became founding members of the UK-India Business Leaders Climate Group," Murdoch said.

In the long term, the company would aim to grow business without increasing the carbon footprint as well as utilise more clean electricity to power its operations, he added.

News Corp had total assets worth $57 billion and revenues of about $33 billion at the end of December 31, 2010.