Google, Intel, Climate Savers wage war on energy-wasting PCs

A number of tech firms, nonprofits, universities, and others (huh, even Starbucks) are teaming up in the Climate Savers Computing Initiative -- a consortium formed to improve energy efficiency in computing. Announcement on the Google Blog here, press release here.

Started by Google and Intel, the Climate Savers Computing Initiative brings together industry, consumers, government, and conservation organizations to significantly increase the energy efficiency of computers and servers. Believe it or not, the average desktop PC wastes over half the power delivered to it! Servers are slightly more efficient but still squander about one-third of the power consumed. This wasted electricity unnecessarily increases the cost to power computers and also increases the emissions of greenhouse gases. Improving the energy efficiency of computers is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce electricity consumption and the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

Through more efficient design optimized for power consumption alongside speed, capacity and cost, together with use of power-saving technologies, the electricity required to power computers can be significantly reduced while at the same time increasing their computing capabilities. As participants in this program, computer and component manufacturers commit to produce products that meet specified power-efficiency targets, and corporate participants commit to purchase power-efficient computing products.

Much talk around the blog'n'newsosphere today: SJ Merc, NYT, Ars Technica, AP, and elsewhere. (Thanks, Nate Tyler!)