Michigan Joining With Energy Efficient Computers

Michigan Joining With Energy Efficient Computers

April 2008 - Governor Jennifer Granholm today 
announced that Michigan will be joining the Climate Savers Computing 
Initiative to encourage the utilization of more energy efficient computers 
and servers in state offices and agencies. 
With some 55,000 desktop computers and laptops and nearly 3,700 servers in 
state government, the annual estimated energy cost savings will be about 
$955,000, according to estimates from the Climate Savers Computing 
Initiative. The annual carbon dioxide saving is estimated at 9,000 tons.
       
"We are committed to making a greener Michigan by doing our part to 
eliminate the wasted power and electricity that increases the emission of 
greenhouse gases," Granholm said. "This partnership means greener 
computing, and it will help our environment and slow global warming while 
protecting our pocketbooks." 
The Climate Savers Computing Initiative, started by Google and Intel in 
2007, is a nonprofit group of consumers, businesses, and conservation 
organizations. 
Its goal is to promote the development, deployment, and adoption of smart 
technologies that can improve the efficiency of a computer's power 
delivery and reduce the energy consumed when the computer is in an 
inactive state. 
The goal of the program is a 50 percent reduction in power consumption by 
computers by 2010, netting $5.5 billion in global energy savings and an 
annual reduction of 54 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. 
Carbon dioxide, CO2, is the primary greenhouse gas that drives global 
warming. 
By joining the Initiative, the state of Michigan is committing to the 
purchase of energy efficient computers that will optimize the state's 
computing environment and help ease the stress on the natural environment. 

Under the terms of the agreement, the state is pledging to purchase 
high-efficiency computer equipment that meets or exceeds federal Energy 
Star ratings; 
The state will optimize existing computer systems by educating employees 
about more efficient and effective computer power management strategies, 
such as better use of hibernation and sleep modes. 
Also in subsequent years, the state has pledged to purchase computing 
equipment with increasing levels of efficiency. 
"By participating in the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, the state of 
Michigan can leverage its purchasing power to achieve improvements in 
energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Bill Weihl, 
Google green energy czar and co-chair of the Climate Savers Computing 
Initiative's board of directors. 
"More importantly," said Weihl, "the state is helping lead the way to a 
cleaner and more secure energy future by providing leadership for Michigan 
residents and businesses looking to reduce their climate impact." 
"The average desktop computer wastes over half of the power delivered to 
it, while servers spend about one-third of their power," said Ken Theis, 
director of the Michigan Department of Information Technology and the 
state's chief information officer. 
"By moving to energy-efficient desktops and servers, we can reduce the 
waste to the benefit of the environment as well as our pocketbooks," said 
Theis. 
Since its launch in June 2007, nearly 200 companies, organizations, and 
states have joined the initiative, and thousands of individuals have 
pledged their support. Sponsors include AMD, Delta Electronics, eBay, 
Fujitsu, Hitachi, Lite-On, Marvell Semiconductor, NEC, Sun and Supermicro. 

Earlier this month, the Climate Savers Computing Initiative announced a 
partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star 
program to accelerate the adoption of energy-saving technology and 
practices. 
Over the next three years, the two organizations will collaborate on 
technical specifications and work together to promote the adoption of 
energy efficient personal computers and servers and the use of power 
management to enterprises and consumers. 
For Earth Day, April 22, the software company 1E is urging desk workers in 
Michigan and across the United States to shut down their computers before 
leaving work. 1E's software, NightWatchman, remotely shuts down computers 
at night, saving any open documents or email. The 1E WakeUp product can 
turn the computers back on for security patches or employee use in the 
morning. 
If every U.S. worker remembers to turn off his or her computer on this one 
day, they would prevent the release of 39,452 tons of CO2 emissions, save 
$4.7 million in utility costs, and reduce energy consumption by 54.3 
million kilowatt hours, according to a Harris study commissioned by 1E, 
and the Alliance to Save Energy.

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