Greenpeace activists showed their disdain for a major computer company in a demonstration that is characteristic of the non-profit organization. In a direct action this morning, several Greenpeace activists scaled the campus of Hewlett Packard in Palo Alto, Calif. and painted “Hazardous Products” in non-toxic children’s finger paint on the roof.

The San Francisco-based environmental organization criticized HP for delaying commitments to remove toxic chemicals — such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) — from its line of computer products. The company postponed removal of these chemicals, which are considered toxic, from the end of this year until 2011…

On HP’s website, the company published this statement regarding use of materials:

“We still use certain BFRs in printed-circuit boards because suitable alternatives are not yet available. As technologically feasible alternatives become readily available that will not compromise product performance or quality and will not adversely impact health or the environment, we will complete the phase out of BFR and PVC in newly introduced personal computing products in 2011.”

Texas Instruments (TI) saved $5.1 million last year by undertaking 159 projects designed to save energy, water and other resources.

The wafer fabrication processes used in semiconductor manufacturing means that energy accounts for more than 60 percent of the Texas-based company’s carbon footprint, and 94 percent of its overall utility budget. Water is responsible for 6 percent of its utility expenses. TI shrunk its global carbon footprint by 2.8 percent in 2008 to 2.07 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Since 2005, TI has reduced emissions by roughly 6 percent, the company said in its 2008 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which is available online.

Last week, at San Francisco’s new California Academy of Sciences museum, IBM gathered a host of industry leaders to discuss how IT can help companies green much more than their data centers.

The company made a host of announcements, including the development of next-generation lithium ion batteries, a superefficient water-cooled supercomputer, a partnership with the city of San Francisco to monitor and improve wastewater handling, and the launch of its Green Sigma Coalition, which aims to address the environmental impacts of a company’s operations, ranging from the data center and office facilities to retail space and manufacturing plants.

The Basel Action Network and the Electronics TakeBack Coalition joined today with 32 electronics recyclers in the United States and Canada to announce that the e-Stewards program, which identifies the most responsible recyclers in North America, is soon to be fully accredited and certified.

The e-Steward Certification will be the continent’s first independently audited and accredited electronic waste recycler certification program. It will forbid the dumping of toxic e-waste in developing countries, local landfills and incinerators; the use of prison labor to process e-waste; and the unauthorized release of private data contained in discarded computers.

During 2007 and 2008, the Institute worked with representatives from Benchmark Electronics, Brooks Instrument, and Emerson Process Management to conduct and document a lead-free electronics implementation for a high reliability electronics product that is exempt from the European RoHS Directive. The research information provided by the New England Lead-free Consortium, as well as the information contained in this case study, is of high value to companies that need to transition to lead-free electronics for their high reliability products. The Institute’s university research program continues to fund research efforts to reduce the use of toxic chemicals in the electronics industry.

The need to control hazardous materials has influenced the design of circuit boards since their conception. While the industry has worked to minimize these materials by incorporating less-toxic ones, some of these safer solutions have their own risks to the environment and the health of the population. Incorporating green laminates into PCBs is just one stage of a continuing tradition of risk management in design. In recent months, published findings regarding the safety of commonly used flame retardants has the industry rethinking previous efforts to remove all halogens from the laminate supply chain.

Our insatiable appetite for gadgets — mobile phones, MP3 players and flat-screen TVs — may be adding a hidden greenhouse gas to the Earth’s atmosphere. Countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol committed to reducing their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other heat-trapping gases: methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. But these aren’t the only climate-altering chemicals being produced by human activity. In the 13 years since the Protocol was first drawn up, scientists have discovered that other gases, such as nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), could become an increasing part of the climate problem.

Virtualization Servers: The New Green Platform for IT
By Andrew Binstock
http://www.greenercomputing.com/column/2008/07/09/virtualization-servers-the-new-green-platform-it
Any attempt to green IT should begin with virtualizing your servers, which is one of the fastest and easiest ways to reduce energy use and costs, and reduce the overall carbon footprint of your IT organization. In this column, Andrew Binstock offers clear advice on how virtualization can help, and includes links to useful benchmarks.

More Companies Concerned With Power Efficiency, Fewer Willing to Pay for Green Tech: Survey
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news/2008/07/08/companies-concerned-with-power-efficiency
Rackspace’s second annual survey investigating companies’ attitudes toward green vendors and efficiency finds expenses have become a stronger force in making green decisions.

Energy Star Standards for Servers May Launch in 2008: EPA
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news/2008/07/07/energy-star-servers-launch-2008
Despite the daunting challenge of developing a performance-based rating system for servers, the EPA plans to have a phase-one version of the new Energy Star standards ready by year’s end.

Cisco Boosts Virtualization With New Products
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news/2008/07/03/cisco-virtualization-new-products
The technology company has announced new products and services that support virtualization in data centers.

Green Electronics Design and Manufacturing
http://www.greenercomputing.com/resources/resource/green-electronics-design-and-manufacturing
This book provides insight from experts in the electronics industry into how to meet global environmental regulations for greener electronics, manage corporate strategy and design teams, and implement methods for testing and analyzing green electronics products.

A synthetic chemical widely used in the manufacture of computers and flat-screen televisions is a potent greenhouse gas, with 17,000 times the global warming effect of carbon dioxide, but its measure in the atmosphere has never been taken, nor is it regulated by international treaty.

The chemical, nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), could be considered the “missing greenhouse gas,” atmospheric chemists Michael J. Prather and Juno Hsu of UC Irvine wrote in a paper released June 26 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. “With the surge in flat-panel displays, the market for NF3 has exploded.”

Nintendo is the least eco-friendly electronics maker, and Microsoft is barely better, according to Greenpeace. The environmental group rated the practices and designs of gadget makers lower than ever in its eighth quarterly report card (PDF).

Fairchild Semiconductor‘s (NYSE: FCS) highly integrated Green FPS power switch, the FSFR2100, received a silver medal for being one of the best IC solutions for energy conservation. This Green Apps contest showcases the unique and powerful contributions of semiconductor solutions for energy conservation. 600 engineers voted on the potential “green impact“ of solutions entered in the contest by semiconductor manufacturers.

Panasonic has released an environmental statement that outlines the company’s mid- and long-term environmental management plans. Of particular interest, the company has set up an “Eco Ideas Factory” at the Kusatsu Factory of Matsushita Home Appliances Company. The name plays off Panasonic’s eco concepts: “eco ideas for manufacturing,” “eco ideas for products,” and “eco ideas for everybody, everywhere.”

Green IT Can Be Virtually Free
By Matthew Wheeland
http://www.greenercomputing.com/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=55903
Ken Brill, the executive director of the Uptime Institute, talks to GreenBiz Radio about some of the surprisingly easy ways to boost performance and drop IT costs at the same time.

Swapping PCs for Thin Client Terminals Slashes Enterprise’s Energy Use, Emissions
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55923
Enterprise Rent-a-Car will finish switching out PCs for thin client terminals in its rental locations to streamline car rental transactions and slash energy consumption and emissions.

Hitachi Planning Most Power-Efficient Data Center
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55936
Hitachi Data Systems has unveiled plans for what it says will be the most power-efficient enterprise-class data center in the world.

Green IT Seen as Priority, But Little Action Taken: Survey
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55917
Green computing is recognized as a priority for cutting costs and energy use, but many companies are still slow to make plans or take action, according to a new report.

Dell Applies Energy-Efficiency Measures to Rhode Island Town
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55906
North Kingstown, R.I. will start a wholesale conversion of its government computers to more energy efficient systems in an effort to save money and reduce its environmental impact.

Sun Debuts New Eco Services
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55900
Sun Microsystems launched its Eco Advantage Program to help its partners green their IT practices. The program offers assistance with training, assessment, scenario modeling and implementation.

Copiers, printers, computers, monitors, scanners, and fax machines can emit indoor pollutants that may result in poor indoor air quality. As manufacturers of electronic products design their products to meet green requirements for today’s marketplace, verifying good indoor air quality performance is a must.

Meeting Green: The Office Equipment Industry’s Guide to Managing Product Emissions serves as a manufacturer’s user guide for understanding the types of indoor contaminants emitted from electronic office equipment and the health impacts associated with chemical and particulate emissions. It reviews the available third-party certification programs and their respective eco-criteria. In addition, the report discusses the technology and testing protocols for measuring chemical and particulate emissions and for establishing the health risks associated with these emissions. This Air Quality Sciences Inc., (AQS) report is available under Premium Content at www.aerias.org.

Dell is now powering 100 percent of its 2.1 million square-foot global headquarters campus with 100 percent green power, the latest step in meeting the company’s 2008 carbon neutral commitment.

The Difficulty of Gauging Workstation Power Consumption-And How  to Get it Done
By Andrew Binstock
http://www.greenercomputing.com/columns_third.cfm?NewsID=55864
Andrew Binstock gives you the lowdown on how you can gauge workstation power today, without having to wait for industry benchmarks.

Don’t Let Recession Hinder Green IT Efforts: Gartner
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55862
The research firm advised companies to move forward with green IT initiatives, especially those that can have a near-term impact on the bottom line, such as power savings efforts.

AQS Releases Report on Office Equipment Emissions
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55853
A new report from Air Quality Services Inc. (AQS) aims to help the public understand the indoor contaminants produced by standard office equipment, such as computers, printers and fax machines

Climate Savers Joins Forces with New Partners at the U.S. EPA and in China
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55847
The group, founded by computing giants like Google, Dell and Intel, has teamed up with the EPA’s Energy Star program and the China Electronics Energy Saving Committee to expand energy efficiency amongst computer systems.

CDW Survey Finds Support for Telecommuting Growing in Private Sector
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55843
A survey by CDW Corporation finds that support among private companies for teleworkers has jumped greatly over the years, as has employee interest in being able to telecommute.

HP Workstation Line Scores Gold
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55837
HP’s entire workstation line scored a Gold rating based on the guidelines of the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), making HP the largest holder of EPEAT Gold registered products.

IBM Expands Data Center Services Globally with Three New Facilities
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55830
New Data Centers in Egypt, Switzerland and Austria showcase the company’s energy-efficiency solutions and innovation ways to reuse heat generated by server setups.

Federal Electronics Challenge: Electronics Environmental Benefits Calculator
http://www.greenercomputing.com/tools.cfm?LINKADVID=77403
This tool aims to assist organizations in estimating the environmental benefits of greening their electronics purchases, usage and disposal.

The government’s Energy Star program and the tech industry’s Climate Savers Computing Initiative will work over the next three years to develop more-efficient standards for consumer electronics.

In Search of Green IT Governance
By Corne de Graaf
http://www.greenercomputing.com/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=55779
In a world where climate change is becoming a key concern, private and public companies are increasingly aware that they have to become greener. Here’s why green IT governance is important, and how companies can get started.

Oxford University to Develop Free Green Computing Software
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55791
Created as a test project to improve the energy efficiency of the university’s own computers, the software will make it easy and free for institutions to reduce their electricity use by as much as 50 percent.

Samsung, Toshiba Take Top Spot in Greenpeace Survey; Nintendo Lags Behind
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55783
In the seventh study of the environmental performance of electronics manufacturers, Toshiba makes a big climb to tie with Samsung for first place, while Nokia made major gains from an earlier drop to end up in third place.

SPEC Developing Benchmark for Workstation Power Use, Performance
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55773
The Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation is targeting the performance of 3D graphics, financial modeling and other potentially energy-intensive processes with the new benchmark.

Consumers Hungry for Green Technology: Survey
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55799
A survey looking at consumer interest in green technology and eco-friendly vehicles find many would like or are interested in greener products.

GREENGUARD to Certify Computers for Chemical Emissions
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55758
GREENGUARD Environmental Institute will extend its toxic chemical emission certification beyond the construction industry to computers and other electronics equipment.

Energy Star Developing Data Center Rating
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55750
Dozens of companies and organizations are helping create an Energy Star rating to provide standards and benchmarks for data centers.

HP Unveils New Data Center Services
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55745
Hewlett-Packard has expanded its data center services to include more support for consolidation, virtualization and energy efficiency.

Green IT Growing in Priority, Cost a Major Concern
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55740
A UK survey finds green computing is among the major priorities for companies, but cost and lack of performance benchmarks is holding it back.

Lenovo Increases Amount of EPEAT Monitors
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55733
The electronics maker is the only company with EPEAT gold certified monitors, meeting high environmental criteria.

GreenPeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics: March 2008
http://www.greenercomputing.com/tools.cfm?LINKADVID=97551
The latest Guide to Greener Electronics reflects progress of manufacturers in eliminating hazardous substances and recycling their products.

Toshiba Corporation is extending the time frame and scope of its Fourth Voluntary Environment Plan and defining new targets. The current plan was initially scheduled to run from FY2005 to FY2010, but the company will now extend it to FY2012, to coincide with the end of the First Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol.

How to Choose a Greener Graphics Card
By Andrew Binstock
http://www.greenercomputing.com/columns_third.cfm?NewsID=55714
Graphics cards are an often overlooked aspect of PC energy efficiency, and can be significant energy hogs. But with some simple rules of thumb and online tools, you can match a user’s needs with the performance of a card and lower power consumption, heat generation and your price tag.

Report Urges Energy Efficient Strategy for Network Equipment Vendors
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55708
In-Stat released market research Monday that found that switch vendors who adapt to energy efficiency soonest will develop a competitive edge,

Green IT Consulting Market to Approach $5B in 5 Years
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55699
Energy-efficient computing is no quick-blossoming trend, according to new research by Forrester that predicts the demand for green IT consulting will grow from $500M this year to $4.8B in 2013.

U.K. Small Businesses Not Yet on Board with WEEE: Survey
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55693
One year after the introduction of the WEEE regulations covering electronic waste disposal in the U.K., a survey by NetRegs has found that many smaller businesses here are still unaware of the legislation.

Sony Takes First in Greenpeace Green IT Survey; Still has a Long Way to Go
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55689
By producing the only products to score over the 50 percent mark in a survey of business and consumer electronics products, Sony’s Vaio notebook and a Sony Ericsson mobile phone and PDA were the most environmentally friendly models on the market — but the results show just how far the industry as a whole has to come.

N. American Companies Lag in Greening IT: Survey
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55682
A survey from Info-Tech Research Group shows a gap in attitude and Green IT adoption rates between global and North American companies.

Microsoft Pushes Energy Efficiency at CeBIT
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55677
In an opening day keynote speech, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer touched on cutting data center energy use.

Climate Savers to Launch European Green IT Campaign at CeBIT
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55663
The industry-led initiative will kick off its work on the continent at the massive IT and telecom trade show next week; CeBIT will be emphasizing energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies of all kinds, and plans a special ‘Green IT Village’ at the event.

Green Computing: Using IT Automation to Achieve Energy Efficiency
http://www.greenercomputing.com/tools.cfm?LINKADVID=97419
This report from Enterprise Management Associates explores the many ways that IT managers can address the growing concern about energy waste from business data needs while lowering operating expenses and increasing profitability.

Concern about the amount of energy eaten up by data centers has led to a slew of research in the area, including new work from Microsoft Research’s Networked Embedded Computing group, which was showcased last week in Redmond, WA, at Microsoft’s TechFest 2008. The work attacks the energy-consumption problem in two ways: new algorithms make it possible to free up servers and put them into sleep mode, and sensors identify which servers would be best to shut down based on the environmental conditions in different parts of the server room. By eliminating hot spots and minimizing the number of active servers, Microsoft researchers say that the system could produce as much as 30 percent in energy savings in data centers.

Microsoft Pushes Energy Efficiency at CeBIT
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55677
In an opening day keynote speech, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer touched on cutting data center energy use.

Sony Takes First in Greenpeace Green IT Survey; Still has a Long Way to Go
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55689
By producing the only products to score over the 50 percent mark in a survey of business and consumer electronics products, Sony’s Vaio notebook and a Sony Ericsson mobile phone and PDA were the most environmentally friendly models on the market — but the results show just how far the industry as a whole has to come.

Climate Savers to Launch European Green IT Campaign at CeBIT
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55663
The industry-led initiative will kick off its work on the continent at the massive IT and telecom trade show next week; CeBIT will be emphasizing energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies of all kinds, and plans a special ‘Green IT Village’ at the event.

Nokia Starts Recycling in East Africa, Apple To Take Back iPods, Phones
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55655
Apple announced it will now take back and recycle iPods and any cell phones, and Nokia has is creating cell phone recycling programs in East Africa.

Semiconductor Company Rewards Green Designs From Around the Globe
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55647
Freescale Semiconductor is holding contests to find and reward sustainable computer systems designs.

Green Computing Drives Government Technology Purchasing
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55631
Technology purchases from all levels of government through an IT contract rose 45 percent thanks to interest in wireless and green computing.

Searching for Greener Electronics
http://www.greenercomputing.com/tools.cfm?LinkAdvID=97393
This survey studied 37 products voluntarily submitted by 14 electronics manufacturers on four sets of criteria: energy efficiency, use of hazardous materials, product lifecycle and innovation, finding progress but room for improvement.

The Environmental Protection Agency has released the first draft (PDF) of the Energy Star power efficiency specifications for computer servers, EDN reports. The plan is for the EPA to first create a Tier 1 of relatively easily attainable power efficiencies, and then steadily raise the bar as customers and end- users of the equipment demand an Energy Star rating and make it a de facto standard. The draft is at a very preliminary stage.

A Guide to Making Your Next IT Purchases as Green As Possible
By Preston Gralla
http://www.greenercomputing.com/columns_third.cfm?NewsID=55568
In his first column for GreenerComputing, editor Preston Gralla looks at the current state of green electronics standards. He finds that, although there is no one seal of approval that lets you know you’ve gotten the most energy efficient and least-toxic products on the market, there are no shortage of online resources to point you in the right direction.

Green Metrics for the Data Center: If Only…
By Andrew Binstock
http://www.greenercomputing.com/columns_third.cfm?NewsID=36389
The IT world is clamoring for consistent, sophisticated standards for developing energy-efficient data centers, but at a recent gathering of the Green Grid’s Technical Forum, it was clear that any practical ideas are still some way from implementation.

U.K. Tech Sector Sets Sights on Energy Efficiency for Climate Goals
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55585
Improving energy efficiency in computer hardware and consumer electronics can address three of the main environmental problems facing the planet, according to a new report from the high-tech trade association Intellect.

Data Center University Includes Green Courses
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55575
The online university’s classes include instruction on efficient power, cooling and layout, all aspects that can cut emissions and save money.

IBM to Help Pharmaceutical Company Build Green Data Center
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55571
As part of its $1 billion-a-year Project Big Green initiative, IBM is helping pharmaceutical company Kalbe build a green data center.

Siemon Gives Tips for Green IT Cabling
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55567
Network cabling solutions provider gives tips on using cabling methods to maximize energy efficiency and make data centers greener.

ICT Helps Energy Efficiency and Productivity: Report
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55559
Information and communications technologies have helped the economy achieve greater levels of productivity without increasing overall levels of energy consumption, a new study found.

Green Grid Gains New Members, Releases More Research
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36630
The Green Grid has unveiled strategies to help data center managers assess energy use, while at the same time gaining a few new members to help drive efficiency in the IT sector.
Cost Pushes Businesses to Green IT, but North America Still Lags: Reports
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36627
Computing energy efficiency is at the core of two new reports. One finds that North America is slower to switch to green IT than other countries, and another says that green computing is appealing mostly because of cost savings.

How Sustainable IT Can Meet CSR Challenges
http://www.greenercomputing.com/tools.cfm?LinkAdvID=77407
This report from the Butler Group examines how the increasing necessity of CSR programs by companies of all sizes is affecting IT managment, and explains how IT managers can take the lead in supporting their company’s sustainability goals.

Researchers at MIT and Texas Instruments have unveiled a new chip design for portable electronics that can be up to 10 times more energy-efficient than present technology. The design could lead to cell phones, implantable medical devices and sensors that last far longer when running from a battery.

Dell’s New Rules in Leadership for Business and the Environment
By John Davies
http://www.greenercomputing.com/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=36606
Dell is now using its direct model in new ways to showcase the company’s environmental commitment, which it has identified as a key strategy for future growth.

Greening the Physical Data Center
By Robert McFarlane
http://www.greenercomputing.com/columns_third.cfm?NewsID=36599
Following these simple, energy-saving steps for building and redesigning data centers can help companies of all sizes get out in front of EPA requirements for energy efficiency.

Best Practices Can Help IT Manufacturers Design Green
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36588
Incorporating environmental stewardship into IT product development presents tremendous opportunity for manufacturers.

HP Ups Green PC Ranks, Says Gov’t Could Save Billions with Green Tech
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36576
HP introduces new energy-efficient business PCs and looks at how the government can save over $1 billion in the coming years with improved PCs and data centers.

Intel Named Biggest Buyer of Green Power
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36598
Intel Corp. will buy 1.3 billion kilowatt hours of renewable energy a year in a bid to stimulate the green power market.

Some IT Decision Makers Still Holding Out on Green Tech: Report
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36575
A new study from Harris Interactive finds that 16 percent of IT pros are “anti-green” unless it saves their company money; nearly one-third say companies should go green even if it means sacrificing some profitability.

Dell Launches New Servers to Stake out Green Data Center Turf
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36564
The company’s new PowerEdge blade servers target HP and IBM’s server businesses, aiming to use less energy for more performance than offerings from those two companies.

IT Can Take the Lead With CSR, According to Report
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36539
“Sustainable IT Provision” lays out why it’s important for the IT industry to take eco-friendly steps and how it can accomplish CSR goals.

Fujitsu Unveils Green Initiative for Retailers
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36533
The company’s “Pervasive Green” initiative includes retail-oriented hardware that is RoHS and WEEE compliant, as well as new operational goals to reduce its own environmental footprint.

IBM Leads Program to Share Clean Technologies
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36521
IBM, Nokia, Pitney-Bowes and Sony are the first companies to join the newly launched Eco-Patents Commons, a coalition spearheaded by IBM to offer environmental technologies, processes and ideas to spur innovation around the globe.

Exercise Environmentally Preferable Purchasing for a Healthier Planet and
Pocketbook
http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/reports_third.cfm?LINKADVID=96952
This Info-Tech report looks at how companies have benefited from adopting environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) programs and gives recommendations on how to set up an effective EPP plan.

Lean & Green: Reducing IT Energy Drain for Business Gain
http://www.greenbiz.com/reference/webguide_record.cfm?LINKADVID=94520
In a world of toxic e-waste and chronic energy shortfall, IT professionals of all stripes are seeking cost-effective ways to implement green practices across the enterprise, and this site aims to spread the word about sustainable computing practices.

Greener Gadgets is a one day conference featuring key representatives from some of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world, innovators from academic thinktanks, members of startups focused on renewable energy, and some of the leading minds in the word of sustainable design and business. Topics to be addressed include: design for sustainability, product life cycle management, take-back and recycling programs, energy efficiency, greener materials, and green lifestyle and product marketing. An attached gallery space will feature a green prototype office display and technology exhibits from companies on the cutting edge of green tech.

For a while now I’ve been in communication with Brett Mosley, the guy who started “BuyMyTronics.com.” Brett’s a huge EcoGeek…he basically buys broken electronics, fixes them, and then sells them on EBay. It’s like recycling, but way better, because the gadgets get to keep living. He’s recently expanded his business to cover iPhones, Zunes, and gaming systems, and is about to expand even further into cell phones and laptops.

But Brett is upset, and that makes me upset. Apparently, the sixth generation iPods and the current iPod Nano have been designed to be 100% unfixable.

Significant attention and a great deal of effort have been expended on understanding the reliability of lead-free solder joints. However, difficulties posed by lead-free soldering as it relates to the reliability of PCB interconnect structures is perhaps more significant. Problems with PCB viability after the assembly process comes primarily from one source – the temperatures required to attach components during the lead-free assembly soldering process. These reliability issues required the development of a White Paper from which the materials in this article were taken.

More Steps Toward Eco-Friendliness: Lead-Free, Halogen-Free and Energy
Efficiency
By Todd Brady
http://www.greenercomputing.com/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=36505
Manufacturers are taking strides to make IT products more efficient and with less hazardous materials. For many products, a relatively quick and simple assessment can be completed by focusing on three primary areas: material content, energy consumption and end of life considerations.

So Your Processor has Multiple Cores — Now What?
By Andrew Binstock
http://www.greenercomputing.com/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=36497
The bottom line is that multiple cores are now universal, so you have no choice but to buy them when upgrading x86-based servers and desktops. But the performance improvement for each will vary.

U.S. Government Mandates EPEAT PC Purchases
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36507
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2008 — Three major departments of the federal government have jointly announced a proposal that would require all new computer purchases to meet EPEAT standards for energy efficiency and toxics, a move that will likely have big effects on commercial and consumer buyers as well.

HP Declares Goal to Cut PC Energy Use
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36499
PC maker plans to reduce its products’ energy consumption by one-fourth in the next two years.

Canon Unveils ‘Generation Green’ Brand
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36494
The new brand and campaign launched Monday will encompass all of its environmentally-focused products and initiatives.

Sharp, Panasonic and Toshiba Launch Electronics Recycling Company
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36485
Panasonic Corp. of North America, Sharp Electronics Corp. and Toshiba America Consumer Products have launched a new electronics recycling company servicing Minnesota, and eventually, beyond.

Biggest U.K. Supercomputer Can Be Used to Model Climate Change
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36475
HECToR operates at up to 60 teraflops and can be used to model climates, financial markets and biological processes.

Vanderbilt University, Oregon see Savings With Virtualization
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36470
Consolidating and virtualizing equipment is expected to save money and energy.

Estimating Regional Power Consumption by Servers
http://www.greenercomputing.com/tools.cfm?LINKADVID=95844
This report by Jonathan Koomey for AMD finds that, at current growth rates, 10 new thousand-megawatt power plants will be needed to power data centers in three years unless small but important changes are made to data center design today.

RETScreen Clean Energy Decision Making Tool
http://www.greenercomputing.com/web_guid.cfm?LinkAdvID=95846
This downloadable application, developed by the CETC in Varennes, Quebec, can be used to help companies of all sizes determine which renewable energy sources will meet their needs most efficiently and cost-effectively.

Three leading electronics brands have established a new electronic product recycling management company, Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company, LLC (MRM), to manage collection and recycling programs in the United States. The new company’s first activities are focused on providing cost effective services to manufacturers who must satisfy the recently enacted requirements in Minnesota for the recycling of used electronic products.

With its plethora of gadgets that become outdated almost as soon as they are sold, the consumer electronics industry is an unlikely champion of the environment.

But since information and communications technology is now estimated to cause more carbon pollution than aviation, and the European Union and other regulators are imposing ever stricter rules on toxic substances used in electronics, the industry has little choice but to act.

For years environmentalists have criticized the electronics industry for the amount of waste and toxic materials it introduces into he environment. But recent announcements show that the industry may finally be reacting to the sea change of public opinion that seems to be driving green initiatives in industries across the board.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced a new strategic initiative to develop electricity from renewable energy sources that will be cheaper than electricity produced from coal. The newly created initiative, known as RE<C, will focus initially on advanced solar thermal power, wind power technologies, enhanced geothermal systems and other potential breakthrough technologies. RE<C is hiring engineers and energy experts to lead its research and development work, which will begin with a significant effort on solar thermal technology, and will also investigate enhanced geothermal systems and other areas. In 2008, Google expects to spend tens of millions on research and development and related investments in renewable energy. As part of its capital planning process, the company also anticipates investing hundreds of millions of dollars in breakthrough renewable energy projects which generate positive returns.

See also Google Expands Into Alternative Energy in today’s Chicago Tribune.

The sixth edition of Greenpeace International’s Guide to Greener Electronics has been expanded to include televisions and game consoles.(1) Market leaders Microsoft, Nintendo, Philips and Sharp enter at the bottom of the ranking of environmental performance with Nintendo being the first company scoring zero out of a possible 10 points. Philips and Microsoft performed little better, scoring only 2 and 2.7, respectively.

Bayer to Spend $1.46 Billion on Climate Program
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36290
Bayer has launched its Group-wide Climate Program, a multi-focus plan for reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment.

Nokia Siemens Sees Profit in Energy Savings
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36303
Nokia Siemens Networks plans to cut energy consumption at some mobile base stations, saving both power and money.

Tyson Backs Chicken Fat-to-Fuel Project
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36269
Tyson Foods is backing a biofuel project that could turn tons of chicken fat into fuel. With estimated capacity for 75 million gallons per year, operation of the plant is scheduled for 2010.

Johnson Controls Adds Students’ Green Concerns to Campaign ‘08
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36294
The winners of Johnson Controls’ TEAMS competition were asked to write an open letter to all the candidates in the 2008 presidential race, urging potential leaders to make the environment and energy efficiency top priorities for the election and beyond.

Nestle and Tyson Among Cos. Developing GRI Guidelines for Food Industry
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36310
Nestle, Tyson Foods, Bunge and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters are the first members to join the GRI working group, which will develop sustainability indicators specific to the food processing industry.

New Carbon Standard Brings Integrity and Transparency to Carbon Offsets
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36288
The Climate Group, the International Emissions Trading Association and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development launched a new global carbon offset standard at the London Stock Exchange to increase participation and confidence in the global voluntary carbon market.

Think Tank Unveils Global Power Plant Database
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36272
The Carbon Monitoring for Action database, or CARMA, spans 50,000 power plants, 4,000 power companies and almost 200,000 regions throughout every country. The U.S. is the biggest CO2 emitter by volume, while Australia emits the most per capita.

Green Concerns Key for Ethical Investors
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36300
Ethical investors will continue to back carbon-intensive firms, but only if they see a commitment to limit environmental impacts.

Survey: Consumers Don’t Understand Green Terms
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36277
Are energy conservation and energy efficiency the same? A new survey shows many consumers don’t understand terms such as energy efficiency, smart energy and demand response.

California Sues U.S. Companies, Stores Over Lead in Toys
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36299
After millions of toys containing lead were recalled, the state sued 20 U.S. toy companies and stores, alleging they knowingly manufactured and sold toys with unlawful amounts of lead.

Survey: UK Government Not Helping Businesses Turn Green
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36304
A majority of United Kingdom businesses think it’s important to be environmentally friendly and would like to see the government provide more assistance to businesses going green.

Green-Minded Shoppers May Bring a Shift to ‘Black Friday’
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36301
As consumers increasingly embrace all things green, companies of all sizes are trying to capitalize on the post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy and do right by the planet at the same time.

Understanding the Renewable Power Options for Your Business
http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/reports_third.cfm?LINKADVID=95057
This issue brief from Business for Social Responsibility and GreenBiz.com gives an introduction to the importance of and options for using renewable power to operate businesses in the U.S., answering the main questions and outlining the benefits.

Wal-Mart’s First Sustainability Report: Just a Gesture or a Just Account?
By Anne Moore Odell, SocialFunds.com
http://greenbiz.com/news/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=36305
Although there are the usual opposing viewpoints that surface whenever the greening of the world’s biggest retailer is discussed, many are viewing Wal-Mart’s sustainability report a good first step on a long road.

Educating Executives: Sustainability 101
By Ron Nahser
http://greenbiz.com/news/columns_third.cfm?NewsID=36307
We can turn challenges into innovative opportunities to realize triple bottom line advantages by providing today’s leaders with knowledge and business skills that encourage new ways of thinking.

Four Tips to Optimize IT Energy Use
By Bruce Naegel
http://www.greenercomputing.com/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=36291
With a looming data center energy crisis on the horizon, IT managers can today take proactive steps to meet tomorrow’s data center challenges.

Vinod Khosla: Moving Green from Crisis to Opportunity
By Matthew Wheeland
http://www.greenercomputing.com/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=36262
Khosla, one of the founders of Sun Microsystems (and thus Silicon Valley as we know it today), is a venture capitalist heavily involved in green technologies ranging from energy-efficient IT projects to biofuels research. He spoke with GreenBiz Radio about what it will take to keep the green momentum moving.

Rethinking Enterprise Structure to Harness the New Energy Economy
By Mike Andrews
http://www.greenercomputing.com/columns_third.cfm?NewsID=36292
Energy efficiency has the potential to benefit all aspects of a company — from IT to facilities to marketing — but without reimagining traditional, often rigid organizational thinking, the adoption of technologies that can benefit every department can stall before it even gets off the ground.

Dell: Future IT Must be Greener
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36273
Following in the footsteps of announcing a push toward recycling e-waste and turning the company carbon neutral, Michael Dell highlighted in a speech a new product that will help companies green their IT departments.

New Group Lists the World’s Greenest Supercomputers
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36263
The Green500 list recognizes the world’s most energy-efficient supercomputers, instead of the traditional recognition of the fastest (and often most power-consuming) machines.

Intel Launches 16 New Lead-Free, Energy-Efficient Chips
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36260
The new processors are the first to make use of Intel’s new Hafnium-based chips made using its 45-nm manufacturing processes, and are expected to increase speed while lowering overall energy use.

HP Makes Acquisition, Advancements to Improve Data Center Efficiencies
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36245
Hewlett-Packard took two steps to improve energy efficiency in data centers, announcing its acquisition of EYP Mission Critical Facilities, a consulting firm specializing in large-scale data centers, and hardware and software improvements for its blade server products.

Retailers Aim to Make Recycling Easy for Customers
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36244
Staples, Office Depot and Costco are releasing new recycling programs in the wake of a recent survey finding that fewer than 25 percent of Americans recycle old, broken or unused electronics.

Western Digital’s New Hard Drives Target Green Data Centers
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36293
LAKE FOREST, Calif., Nov. 20, 2007 — Three new hard drives from Western Digital, aimed at increasingly energy-conscious IT managers, promise savings of up to 40 percent over similarly sized drives.

Non-Profits to Study Emissions Impact from ICT Sector
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36240
The Climate Group and Global e-Sustainability Initiative will conduct a research study on how the information communication technology sector (ICT) is impacting climate change.

Xerox: 2B Pounds of E-Waste Diverted
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36236
Recycling and reusing parts and products allowed Xerox to divert billions of pounds of e-waste from landfills. It saved billions, too.

Energy Costs Fastest Rising Expense for SMBs: Survey
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36230
Small and medium-sized businesses around the world have seen energy costs rise faster than healthcare, payroll, rent and equipment, according to an IBM poll released this week. Most, however, are increasingly turning to green IT systems to help.

Managing information technology sustainably can reduce corporate energy bills and keep toxins out of landfills. Thinking “green” with IT can also help companies manage raw materials more efficiently and increase revenue. We explain how to get started.

Gadget-fixing is adapting to the modern era. Neighborhood repair shops are all but gone, and along with them the repairmen who could offer casual advice, even when that advice was whether it was worth repairing the device. But Web sites can help users find and share solutions that can save a device from the landfill. If the job is too tricky, a number of Internet-based firms offer highly specialized repairs via overnight mail.

Some sites like macfixit.com, fixmyxp.com and macosxhints.com are devoted to a single product, while others like avsforum.com sponsor debates on a big product area, in this case home theaters, televisions and stereos. People with laptops that have suddenly gone blank can turn to www.notebookforums.com or notebookreview.com, and there are even a few sites like www.highdefforum.com for fixing TVs.

Yaniv Bensadon, the chief executive of fixya.com, started his site after he moved back to Israel from the United States and found that his electronics would often malfunction in the new environment. The manuals and the support offered by the manufacturers rarely helped.

Today the National Governors Association announced a partnership with the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, a program started by Google and Intel to bring together manufacturers, businesses, organizations and individuals to increase the energy efficiency of computers and servers.

The partnership between NGA’s Securing a Clean Energy Future initiative and CSCI is designed to spur deployment of energy-efficient computers and servers in state offices. NGA’s SCEF initiative, launched in July, is an effort to enlist all governors to enact clean-energy policies at the state level.

Greening a Company from the Break Room to the Server Farms
By Matthew Wheeland
http://www.greenercomputing.com/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=36186
High-tech companies like web hosting provider Rackspace face a dual challenge in the green business world: greening their operations and helping their clients get green at the same time. The company’s CTO, John Engates, explains how greening their data centers has caused ripples throughout their company and the industry.

Strategic Thinking: Will the Green Wave Bring the Return of the Thin Client?
By Andrew Binstock
http://www.greenercomputing.com/columns_third.cfm?NewsID=36222
Although the rise of environmental awareness in IT departments has given a new tack for thin-client companies to promote their products, it’s not clear if the enthusiasm for all things green will or even should lead IT to adoption of all technologies that lower power consumption.

IBM’s Energy Efficiency Certificate Program an Industry First
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36207
As part of its ongoing Project Big Green, IBM has created the industry’s first company-led program to measure and certify energy efficiency results for data centers, and allow trading of efficiency certificates.

Governors Join with Computing Giants to Spread Green Computing
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36223
The National Governors Association announced a new partnership with the Climate Savers Computing Initiative that aims to bring ever more energy-efficient computers to state offices and agencies.

Xerox Bundles Software to Help Reduce Printer Waste
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36216
The software from GreenPrint, which will come included with two of Xerox’s Phaser brand color printers, makes it easy for companies to save paper, ink and energy by analyzing and optimizing each page sent to be printed.

Digital Realty Trust Earns First LEED Gold for Data Center
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36200
The company’s 20,000-square-foot center is the first of its kind to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold-level certification for its energy efficiency and environmentally friendly design.

Cisco Announces Multi-Billion-Dollar China Investment
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36193
The networking equipment manufacturer could spend as much as $16 billion on a multi-year initiative that includes the company’s first green technology center dedicated to sustainable development.

Lenovo Creates First EPEAT Gold-Certified Computer Monitors
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36163
In addition to receiving the Green Electronics Council’s highest rating for energy and environmental performance, the company’s ThinkVision L193p LCD monitor is the first EPEAT product to be made of at least 25 percent post-consumer recycled content.

Microsoft, Wal-Mart Announce Cleantech Initiatives at Toronto Forum
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36170
At the recent Cleantech Forum, the two corporate giants each introduced programs to highlight their own use of clean technologies, as well as ways to make it easier for companies to use cleantech in their own operations.

APC, Schneider Electric Open Green Research Center
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36176
At the latest meeting of the Green Grid, two of the group’s members unveiled their new technology center, which will focus on researching energy-efficient data center equipment.

IBM Devises More Eco-Friendly Method of Recycling Silicon Wafers
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36181
IBM has developed a new way of repurposing silicon semiconductor wafers so that the sought-after material can be reused within the company or sold to the solar energy industry.

1E Launches New Power Management Software
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36189
1E launched power management software for Windows Vista users that it claims will help businesses save energy by avoiding idle workstations.

ABC: An Introduction to Environmentally Sustainable IT
http://www.greenercomputing.com/web_guid.cfm?LinkAdvID=94960
This primer from CIO magazine gives a good overview of how IT fits into the current dialogue surrounding environmental issues. It offers information about sustainable IT manufacturing, disposal and data center optimization, among other topics.

Electrical Efficiency Modeling for Data Centers
http://www.greenercomputing.com/tools.cfm?LinkAdvID=94961
A simple, more accurate efficiency model is described that provides a rational basis to identify and quantify waste in power and cooling equipment.

Computer maker IBM has found a way to save money, reduce waste, and contribute to the development of the solar power industry with just one smart innovation — recycling defective semiconductor chips and sending the recovered refined silicon to manufacturers of photovoltaic solar cells. A worldwide shortage of refined silicon, the key ingredient in both semiconductors and solar cells, has kept prices for solar power artificially high in recent years, and photovoltaic producers welcome the news of IBM’s breakthrough in processing its wasted chips for them.

Since the stringent new requirements for Energy Star computers became effective in July, more than 35 manufacturers have demonstrated their commitment to fight climate change by offering products that save energy. These newly qualified computers offer significant savings opportunities at home and in businesses. In fact, if every U.S. household and business replaced old computers with new Energy Star qualified models, we would save more than $1.8 billion in energy costs over the next five years and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to more than 2.7 million cars.

The new specification establishes efficiency requirements for all modes of operation, which ensures energy savings when a computer is active and running basic applications, as well as when it is on stand-by. Newly qualified computers must also include an internal power supply that is at least 80 percent efficient. Under the new specification, only the most energy-efficient computer equipment, including desktop and notebook (or laptop) computers, game consoles, integrated computer systems, desktop-derived servers and workstations, can earn the Energy Star label.

When businesses and other organizations purchase computers in large numbers, the benefits stack up. For every 100 computers a business replaces with computers meeting the new Energy Star specification, it will save $175 per year on energy bills and more than $670 over the lifetime of the computers.

It will also be easier for consumers and businesses to find qualified computers and related equipment. Under the new specification, manufacturers must display the Energy Star label on the product and its packaging, in product literature, and on Web sites to clearly indicate which products meet the new specification. Qualified product listings can also be found on Energy Star’s Web site at http://www.energystar.gov/find_a_product  and click on “Computers”

Computers were the first product to qualify for EPA’s Energy Star label in 1992. The United States now has more than 180 million computers in use that consume nearly 58 billion kWh per year or about two percent of the nation’s annual electricity consumption.

Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. The US Department of Energy joined EPA in this effort and today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products. Products that have earned the Energy Star designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. For more information: http://www.energystar.gov

GreenPrint Technologies today announced it is teaming up with Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) to bundle GreenPrint Enterprise software with Xerox’s Phaser(R) 8560 and Phaser(R)8860 solid ink color printers. With the purchase of a solid ink printer, Xerox customers will have the opportunity to download a full version of GreenPrint Enterprise software at no cost. This effort further promotes the missions of GreenPrint and Xerox to provide environmental and cost-saving benefits to their customers.

Intel’s Business Case for Carbon Reduction
By Sarah Fister Gale
http://www.greenercomputing.com/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=36114
In this Q & A, Dave Stangis of Intel discusses the evolution of the company’s carbon footprint and the challenges of making the business case for carbon reduction and efficiency improvements.

Trend Watching: Green Storage Gear Alone Just Isn’t Good Enough
By Chris James, Business Green
http://www.greenercomputing.com/columns_third.cfm?NewsID=36147
Being green might be the latest trend in business, but just buying environmentally friendly storage products doesn’t mean you are doing all you can to help the environment — indeed you could be doing more harm than good.

Green IT Will Be 2008’s Top Strategic Technology: Gartner
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36071
Green IT could significantly impact enterprises during the next three years, Gartner Inc. predicts. Potential regulations could complicate the plans of businesses that want to expand their data centers.

Green Grid Clears Three Key Energy Efficiency Research Hurdles
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36149
The new research items include an analysis of data center power distribution configurations, an updated white paper and examination of existing data center energy efficiency metrics.

Sony Europe’s Takeback Program Shows Benefits, Saves Money
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36146
The electronics manufacturer saved over 400,000 euros by carefully managing and optimizing the takeback programs it participated in, according to a study in the Journal of Industrial Ecology.

Storage Networking Group Launches Green Storage Initiative
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36091
The Storage Networking Industry Association wants to slash the environmental impact of data storage operations by gathering industry players for the Green Storage Initiative, which will align with The Green Grid and EPA.

IBM’s ‘Mainframe Gas Gauge’ to Boost Efficiency, One Machine at a Time
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36065
A new program from IBM’s Project Big Green allows customers to gauge the performance per watt of their mainframes, compare PPW to other servers and platforms, and maximize energy efficiency in data centers.

Dell Offers SMEs Tips for Greening IT Practices
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36083
All businesses should evaluate their operating processes and incorporate practical environmental measures, according to Dell Inc.

Office Depot Extends Tech Recycling Service Continent-Wide
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36096
The retailer’s recycling program, which premiered in 2006 in just 100 stores, has already diverted more than 100,000 pounds of electronics, batteries and printer cartridges from landfills.

TechNet Summit Explores Green IT’s Promise for the Planet
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36117
Despite the enormous energy and resource consumption in the IT sector, and the resulting greenhouse gases, technology offers myriad opportunites to ease the climate crisis, according to experts gathered at the fourth annual TechNet Innovation Summit, held at the University of California.

Fujitsu Targets SMEs With New Storage System
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36137
Fujitsu has focused its attention on the small to mid-sized enterprise market with a storage area network (SAN) it claims offers low power consumption and cost.

Dell Launches Global Competition to Design World’s Greenest Computer
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36130
At the 2007 World Design Contest, Dell Computer issued a call to design students and others to join its International Green Computing Technology Design Competition and take a shot at the $15,000 prize.

The Green Initiatives Your Peers are Cultivating
http://www.greenercomputing.com/tools.cfm?LINKADVID=94803
This report, made available specially to GreenerComputing readers by InfoTech, explores the adoption rates for 13 green technologies/tactics, two models for assessing the maturity of various green initiatives, green adoption trends in the mid-market, and factors that affect adoption.

Strategic, Financial, and Design Implications of Extended Producer Responsibility in Europe
http://www.greenercomputing.com/tools.cfm?LINKADVID=94804
The study from the Journal of Industrial Ecology examines how WEEE legislation and extended producer responsibility laws have affected Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s recycling efforts.

This competitive announcement is expected to result in the award of one cooperative agreement to support pollution prevention/source reduction and/or resource conservation in the procurement of electronic products, through the development of new environmental standards for electronic products.

The award will provide up to $300,000 over a five year period for development of four environmental leadership standards to assist institutional purchasers in identifying and selecting environmentally preferable electronic products. This cooperative agreement will build on the work developed through the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEATTM) Project, a multi-stakeholder consensus decision-making process that was funded by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) as detailed in the program history section of this RFP. EPEAT is a registered trademark of the Green Electronics Council (GEC).

Data centers that require energy to run servers and provide cooling account for almost a quarter of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from information and communications technology (ICT), according to analyst firm Gartner.

The firm’s estimate, released on Oct. 11, follows its finding in April that the ICT industry produces 2 percent of global CO2 emissions, placing it on a par with the aviation industry.

The survey examines challenges and success scenarios in creating lean computing and storage infrastructures that deliver exceptional performance in an environmentally sound IT setting. As a thank you, all survey participants will receive a complimentary report containing the results of this survey.

Take the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=P9m2Ldn_2f4pLQHbOlE9yqog_3d_3d.

Do-IT-Yourself: the Power of Data Center Self-Assessments
By Joe Bottazzi
http://www.greenercomputing.com/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=36061
If you are hoping to optimize the efficiency of your data center and cut power and cooling costs, don’t remodel your data center or build a whole new one just yet. This step-by-step guide to assessing and analyzing data center costs can help IT managers strategize to maximize efficiency in their current data centers.

Trend Watching: Power-Sipping Desktop Hard Drives
By Andrew Binstock
http://www.greenercomputing.com/columns_third.cfm?NewsID=36046
Many mistakenly believe hard-disk drives consume the most power but the disk industry has done a remarkable job of keeping energy consumption low.

Gartner Paints Grim Picture of Data Centers’ Future
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36029
Gartner Inc. predicts the vast majority of U.S. data centers will face serious disruptions in the coming years as more midsize and large users shift toward data center hosting. IT managers also can expect to pay to hefty energy bills that are in line with the expense of hardware infrastructure.

New Report Touts Green Benefits of Outsourcing Your IT
By James Murray, Business Green
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36048
The report, commissioned by Rackspace and conducted by analysts at IDC, found that bringing on third-party service providers for data centers and servers can trim energy use by 40 percent, as well as lowering a company’s exposure to green legislation.

Kaiser, McKesson Among Winners of EPEAT Green Electronics Champions Award
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36012
The healthcare companies, along with the cities of San Jose and Phoenix and California’s Integrated Waste Management Board, were recognized for saving a combined $5 million in energy costs and preventing the release of 4,800 tons of greenhouse gases by using energy-efficient computers.

Rackable Systems’ ICE Cube Takes Data Centers Modular
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36006
The Integrated Concentro Environment (ICE) center, which can hold 4.1 petabytes of storage in a standard shipping container, is also designed to maximize power while minimizing cooling costs and energy usage.

Dell Aims for Carbon Neutrality by 2008
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=35981
Dell, touting itself as on track to becoming the first computer manufacturer to
make its global operations carbon neutral, will begin offsetting its emissions
next year.

Don’t Wait on Green IT to Spruce up Data Centers, Experts Say
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=35995
Companies should look closely at how they can save energy and money by reconfiguring their IT hardware now, rather than waiting for advanced technologies to take root; some companies will find major savings only barely hidden in their data centers.

NComputing Takes Home WSJ Technology Innovation Award
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36036
NComputing took home the Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award last month for virtualization software that allows multiple users to share a standard personal computer.

BPM Forum Launches Green IT Program
http://www.greenercomputing.com/news_third.cfm?NewsID=35985
The Business Performance Management Forum and BlueArc Corp. partnered this week to launch a thought leadership program geared toward energy efficiencies in the IT sector.

Corporate Strategies for Electronics Recycling: A Tale of Two Systems
http://www.greenercomputing.com/tools.cfm?LINKADVID=94107
This case study compares two very different models for recycling obsolete computers and electronic hardware that have been created by the two largest computer makers in the U.S.

Batteries for IT Systems: Environmental Issues
http://www.greenercomputing.com/tools.cfm?LINKADVID=94108
This white paper from Green IT focuses on environmental and recycling aspects of battery use in IT systems.

It’s another brilliant day at the world headquarters of the hottest company on the planet. Some shirtless employees are playing a lunchtime game of volleyball while others stride across campus with laptops tucked under their arms. The place fairly crackles with energy, and in more ways than one.

Up here on a roof at Google’s leafy and sprawling Mountain View, Calif., campus, with the shouts of the volleyball game just barely audible, sunlight glints off 9212 polysilicon solar panels stretching out toward the horizon. Amid the irregular jumble of angular roofs, a single south-facing wave stands out, a pitch and roll frozen in place against a backdrop of foothills.