Social networking website Facebook and Greenpeace have agreed to become firm friends in promoting renewable energy. Facebook and the eco-friendly charity are coming together to promote the use of renewable energy and its generation by utilities and develop energy saving programs for Facebook users.

The move has ended Greenpeace's two-year Unfriend Coal Campaign, which encouraged 700,000 users to lobby Facebook to use clean energy instead of coal in its data centres.

Tzeporah Berman, Co-director of Greenpeace's International Climate and Energy Program, says, "Greenpeace and Facebook will now work together to encourage major energy producers to move away from coal and instead invest in renewable energy. This move sets an example for the industry to follow.

"This shift to clean, safe energy choices will help fight global warming and ensure a stronger economy and healthier communities."

Facebook has promised to use both clean and renewable energy power in its data centres and to persuade other IT companies to do the same.

Marcy Scott Lynn, of Facebook's sustainability program, says, "Facebook looks forward to a day when our primary energy sources are clean and renewable, and we are working with Greenpeace and others to help bring that day closer.

"As an important step, our data centre siting policy now states a preference for access to clean and renewable energy.

"Another important step will be to work with Greenpeace to put the power of our platform to use for the environment.

"Greenpeace has been particularly effective using Facebook to spark environmental awareness and action, we are excited to work with them to explore new ways in which people can use Facebook to engage and connect on the range of energy issues that matter most to them - from their own energy efficiency to access to cleaner sources of energy."

Greenpeace will support Facebook as it continues researching energy efficiency and sharing the results using its Open Compute Project.

Casey Harrell, Senior IT Analyst for Greenpeace International, says, "Facebook's commitment to renewable energy raises the bar for other IT and cloud computing companies such as Apple, IBM, Microsoft, and Twitter.

"The Facebook campaign proved that people all over the world want their social networks powered by renewable energy, and not by coal. Greenpeace will continue to measure, report and campaign on the sector's progress to green the cloud."

The two groups will promote methods of saving energy and using clean energy through Facebook.

Greenpeace, an independent worldwide campaigner that aims to change attitudes and actions to help protect and save the environment and back peace initiatives, is already the most 'liked' environmental charity on the social media site, involving more than 3.8m users worldwide.

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.

Facebook is a leading social website where users can link up with 'friends' and show that they 'like' charities, interests and businesses.