Climate Savers Computing Initiative
Posted by Bill Weihl, Green Energy
Czar
Last fall we talked about
our work on efficient power supplies in the capable hands of
Ben Jai, Ken Krieger and the rest of our power supply team. Since
then, we've become involved in several projects focused on
environmental stewardship. Today, for example, together with Intel,
Dell, EDS, the EPA, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, the World Wildlife
Fund, and more than 20 other companies, we
announced the
Computing Initiative. After working on this initiative over the
last few months, we're delighted to join with so many
organizations to form this new group. In particular this project
should speak to every business with computers.
Believe it or not, a typical desktop PC wastes over half the power
delivered to it — and, when turned on, most desktops waste power —
even when they're not in use. Through some very simple
measures, there is an opportunity to save 70-80% of the power
currently consumed by desktop computers. With a more efficient
power supply, more efficient DC-to-DC converters, and
power-management features turned on, that same desktop PC would
save as much as 80% of the energy currently consumed! That energy
savings means dollars, of course; it also prevents emissions of
greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
This initiative is one example of ways we as a company can work to
reduce our environmental impact. A few others we've
undertaken:
- our fuel-efficient vehicle incentive project
- our corporate shuttle program for commuting to work
- organic, locally-sourced food in our café
-
our corporate solar panel installation
There are always more measures to take, of course. Through
exploring innovative technologies that promise to reduce our
collective impact on the environment. And as with Climate Savers,
we hope to set an example as well as use the convening power of
Google to further more environmental initiatives.
All of these sorts of programs, and more, are what's needed. As
ecologist Rachel Carson
put it, "Only within the moment of time represented by the
present century has one species — man — acquired significant power
to alter the nature of his world." Let's work together now
to alter things for the good of the planet.