Sustainable Computer Use Education: a Multi-Industry Issue

Microsoft is committed to the reduction of the impact of computer use on the environment through power management and energy efficiency.

In 2007, Microsoft collaborated with a number of well-known companies and organizations to launch the Climate Savers Computing Initiative (CSCI).

Through CSCI, Microsoft and its partners offer a unified voice on the importance of sustainable computer use. In addition, CSCI offers clear guidance to individuals and businesses on how to take advantage of industry innovations and best practices that improve energy efficiency and power management.

A Shared Mission: Use Less Power, More Efficiently

Inspired by World Wildlife Fund's Climate Savers program – which, since 1999 has helped more than a dozen companies reduce carbon dioxide emissions and has shown that emissions reduction is good business – CSCI was founded as a nonprofit group of consumer, businesses, and conservation organizations in 2007.

CSCI aims to promote development, deployment, and adoption of smart technologies that streamline power delivery to computers and reduce the amount of energy that computers consume.

Hardware and software manufacturers like Microsoft who participate in CSCI commit to the production of products that meet specific power efficiency targets.

CSCI provides resources to consumers and IT professionals, who want to learn more about power management, including:

• Information that increases awareness about the environmental and economic impact of power management.
• Prescriptive guidance on how to take advantage of sustainable computing products that are already in the marketplace.

Climate Savers Computing Initiative Board Members include:

• Microsoft
• Dell
• Electronic Data Systems
• Google
• Hewlett-Packard
• Intel
• Lenovo
• Pacific Gas & Electric
• World Wildlife Fund

Ways That Computer Technology Can Make an Impact on the Environment

Microsoft and CSCI are working to provide individuals with the technology, education, and guidance to make an immediate impact on the environment by making simple changes in their personal computing lifestyle. Here are a few examples:

Power management features on by default. In Windows Vista, power-saving settings are on by default, which eliminates the need for users to customize their PC settings to significantly reduce energy use.

Recommended energy settings. CSCI publicizes the recommended energy settings for various operating systems, including Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP, and Windows Vista, to give people the information they need to maximize their computing energy efficiency.

ENERGY STAR-compliant computers. CSCI provides information about the environmental impact of their computer purchases with the catalog of ENERGY STAR Compliant PCs.

Community creation initiatives. Visitors to the CSCI Web site can make an online pledge to use power management features and take part in the creation of a community of eco-conscious consumers who are committed to sustainable computer use.

Remote power-down for businesses. CSCI publishes Wake-On-LAN information for IT professionals. With this technology solution, businesses can power down their computers overnight without sacrificing IT professionals' ability to perform maintenance on those systems.

Tip: Screen savers do not save energy. In fact, screen savers typically not only draw more power for the monitor, but also prevent the computer from shutting down. Try this instead: Set your computer to turn off your monitor first, and then go into standby mode after a longer period of inactivity.

Awareness of Sustainable Computer Use

Here are some of the steps Microsoft and CSCI have taken to increase global awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of sustainable computer use:

CSCI and Deutsche Messe AG collaborated to boost awareness of energy efficient computer use for the 2008 CeBIT trade show.

At CeBIT, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer described "the fifth revolution in computing," announcing that computer use will play a crucial role in the development of solutions for global issues like climate change: "The combination of processing power, storage, broadband networks, natural UI (user interfaces), and ubiquitous screens will help us tackle climate change. Software will play a vital role in the innovations that help us achieve new levels of energy efficiency in every aspect of our lives. It will enable businesses to redesign products and processes to use less energy and fewer natural resources."

On the CSCI Web site, businesses can review a power management case study provided by Electronic Data Systems (EDS) Corporation, a CSCI board member. The case study provides information on EDS's two-phased approach to implement a power management plan across its enterprise. This information includes best practices and articulates the economic and environmental value for businesses to adopt a power management plan: According to EDS, their plan will result in the preservation of at least US $477,900 in electricity costs and an estimated 60 KWh reduction in power consumption per computer each year.

CSCI is working with a public relations agency to generate increased media interest in sustainable computer use and its potential benefit for consumers, businesses, and the environment.

Did You Know?

By 2010, about half of the Forbes global 200 will spend more on energy than on computing hardware.

A recent PC Pro Labs study of 800 office workers in the United Kingdom showed that 25 percent of workers leave their computers running all weekend.

The study also found that 67 percent of the workers left their computers running a screensaver rather than using Sleep mode. That translates into wasted energy and higher costs – all of which can be avoided with power management features.

The Adoption of ENERGY STAR as a Standard

Microsoft and CSCI regard the U.S. Government's ENERGY STAR Program as a valuable standard for energy efficient computer use. In April 2008, CSCI and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a partnership to accelerate the adoption of energy-saving technology and practices.

Over the next three years, the two organizations will take the following steps:

• Collaborate on technical specifications.
• Work together to promote the adoption of energy-efficient computers and servers.
• Work together to promote the use of power management to enterprises and consumers.

Under the terms of the partnership:

• ENERGY STAR is CSCI's baseline technical recommendation now and in the future.
• CSCI recommends that consumers and businesses choose computers that meet or exceed the latest ENERGY STAR specification when new computers are purchased.
• The two organizations will engage in joint marketing programs and recruitment efforts to drive increased awareness on sustainable computer use.
• CSCI will participate in and support the EPA's ENERGY STAR Low Carbon IT Campaign.
• ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency.

A United Voice for Energy-Efficient Computer Use

Microsoft and CSCI believe that sustainable computer use requires the close collaboration of individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and governments.

To promote collaboration between individuals, businesses, and non-profits, CSCI encourages active participation:

Individuals are encouraged to support the Initiative by pledging to use power management, and to make high-efficiency systems a requirement for their next computer purchase.

Organizations can officially join the CSCI, either as associate or affiliate members:

• Associate members are hardware and software vendors who agree to deliver products that meet or exceed the Program Criteria. Associate Member dues are $2,500 annually.
• Affiliate members are organizations that agree to purchase computers that meet or exceed the Program Criteria. Affiliate membership is free and open to any type of organization.

In addition to Associates and Affiliates, the Initiative has two other levels of members, Sponsors and a Board of Directors, which are extended by invitation.

With over 100 companies and organization members, CSCI has grown since its establishment in June 2007. It has also expanded internationally, with subgroups in parts of Europe and Asia. In April 2008, CSCI signed a memorandum of agreement with the China Electronics Energy Saving Committee (CEESC) detailing plans for collaboration on energy conservation and environmental protection by sharing technology and information.

Each new CSCI member reflects the computing industry's awareness that the promotion of sustainable computer use is a critical opportunity for computer hardware and software manufacturers to help individuals and businesses reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Microsoft is proud to stand united with its partners in the call for increased energy efficiency in computer use.

What Can I Do?

Whether you use a computer at home/work or make technology IT purchase/management decisions for a business or other organization, you can take advantage of CSCI information and programs to make an immediate impact on the environment.

If you are an individual:

• Learn about power management and how to use energy-efficiency features in Windows operating systems;
• Review the Climate Savers Smart Computing Product Catalog when you shop for a new computer;
• Take the pledge to immediately turn on power management and buy only energy-efficient computers in the future.

If you are a business decision-maker:

• Join CSCI and commit to the use of power management on all systems and the selection of energy efficient computers for the majority of your future enterprise PC and volume server purchases.

Our combined willingness to take action will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by millions of tons each year.

For more information, contact: admin@climatesaverscomputing.org