Social network tackles green business issues

A new professional social network hs launched to help businesses get and stay green by reducing their carbon footprints.

The 2degrees network has already secured a string of blue-chip followers including EDF Energy and Marks and Spencer as well additional support in the form of backing from partners Cisco

Cisco, MITIE Engineering

and the Climate Group.

Tackling data centre energy consumption is the new site's first target area and it has created a special interest group to help stimulate debate and discussion on the subject.

"The ability or non-ability to build professional networks quickly can either be a major asset or a major barrier to business growth and none more so than in the area of data centre and server strategy," said 2degrees' chairman and chief executive Martin Chilcott.

"Until now, finding the right people and organisations in this area has been hit and miss, and a long, drawn out affair. By using similar technology to other social networking sites, we are making it substantially easier for companies to build collaborative networks and ultimately accelerate their ability to implement green' data centres effectively."

The new site offers members a blend of online and offline activity including search tools, blogs, face-to-face events and monthly networking events. It also aims to help overcome traditional barriers to being green while reducing costs and ramping up product time to market.