Global IT Majors Band Together to save the climate from Computer

The Climate Savers Computing Initiative, a global program driven by major IT companies including CSC, Dell, Google, HP, Intel, Lenovo, and Microsoft, has launched its India chapter. Started in the United States in 2007, CSCI is a nonprofit group of eco-conscious consumers, businesses and conservation organizations promoting adoption of smart technologies in everyday business and personal computing which can improve the efficiency of a computer’s power delivery and reduce the energy consumed when the computer is in an inactive state.

It is estimated that there are currently more than 1 billion desktop and notebook computers in use globally. It is projected this number will increase to 2.25 billion by 2015. In a typical desktop PC, more than half of the power is wasted as heat and it never reaches the processor, memory, disks, or other components. Even servers, which are typically more efficient than desktops, still waste 30 to 40 percent of the power utilized. Most of today’s desktop PCs are capable of automatically transitioning to a sleep or hibernate mode when inactive for a sustained duration, however, in about 90 percent of systems this functionality has been disabled. This results in higher energy consumption and an increase in electricity usage.

According to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker for 4Q08, there will be 4.1 million more desktop PCs and 2.4 million more notebook PCs in use in India in 2009. By 2010, the country's installed base of PCs will reach 47 million units. Today, IT users generally lack awareness about the power-saving features already built into present-day machines. All in all, this adds up to tremendous waste of energy every day.

The launch of India’s Climate Savers Computing chapter is led by Intel, Dell, HP, Google and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

India is the sixth largest producer and consumer of energy in the world. It is projected that with growing computer penetration, especially in the smaller markets, energy usage will increase. The India chapter of Climate Savers Computing and its constituents will encourage the development of more energy efficient computing devices by manufacturers and at the same time educate organizations and individuals in smart practices of power management.

Globally, Climate Savers Computing was started in the spirit of WWF’s Climate Savers program which has mobilized over a dozen companies since 1999 to cut carbon dioxide emissions, demonstrating that reducing emissions is good business. According to the “PC Energy Report 2009” published by the Alliance to Save Energy (a coalition of business, governmental, environment and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide), US organizations waste $2.8 billion every year powering 108 million unused PCs. In 2009, these unused PCs are expected to emit approximately 20 million tons of CO2 emissions which are roughly equivalent to the impact of 4 million cars.

Beyond simply doing something proactive and positive for the environment by reducing CO2 emissions, Climate Savers Computing participating organizations have benefited through substantial savings in reduced energy costs. In India, a power deficit country, the social cost of similar savings would in itself be manifold as energy saved could be put to more productive use in manufacturing or agriculture.

For more information and to pledge your support, visit http://www.climatesaverscomputing.org.