Tech world unites to save the planet – and make your supply chain greener

A group calling themselves the “Climate Savers Computing Initiative” emerged this week with some massive environmental goals and enough tech and government pull to make a significant difference to the planet – and to your supply chain.

Heavy hitters AMD, IBM, Intel, Dell, EDS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HP, Google, Lenovo, Microsoft, PG&E, the World Wildlife Fund and more than 25 additional organizations plan to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting aggressive new targets for energy-efficient computers and components, and promoting the adoption of energy-efficient computers and power management tools worldwide. Specifically, the broad effort aims to save $5.5 billion in energy costs, based on IDC projections of desktop and server volumes between 2007 and 2011, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54 million tons per year starting in 2010.

How are they going to do it? By reworking electronics supply chain regulations. Their first supply chain target is the PC industry, which the Semiconductor Industry Association today confirmed is continuing to be the largest single end market for semiconductors with PC sales on track to reach 10 percent unit growth in 2007 for approximately 255 million units. 
   
According to the group, the average desktop PC wastes nearly half of its power, and the average server wastes one-third of its power. So, in turn, the Climate Savers Computing Initiative is setting a new 90 percent efficiency target for power supplies, which would get the group to the two above noted targets, equal to removing more than 11 million cars from the road or shutting down 20 500-megawatt coal-fired power plants.

Important to note, the initial companies participating in the initiative represent both the demand and supply side of the PC industry, including computer manufacturers and chipmakers, as well as environmental groups, energy companies, retailers and government agencies. So there’s no way around it; the electronics supply chain will be affected. It’s also important to note that the name “Climate Savers” was licensed from the World Wildlife Fund Climate Savers program and that this group is the first to apply “Climate Savers” to an entire sector.

The Climate Savers Computing Initiative said in its initial energy efficiency benchmarks will follow the EPA’s Energy Star guidelines, but with increasing requirements during the next several years. For example, 2007 Energy Star specifications require that PC power supplies meet at least 80 percent minimum efficiency, while the group requires a minimum of 90 percent by 2010. In addition, Climate Savers Computing Initiative sets a higher efficiency target in the power supply for volume servers (1U and 2U single-socket and dual-socket systems): an increase from 85 percent to 92 percent efficiency by 2010.

Consumers are also encouraged to participate in the effort and can pledge to purchase an initiative-certified system via the group’s Web site. The Web site also aims to educate consumers on computer power-saving capabilities like sleep and hibernate modes, which can reduce the amount of energy consumed by up to 60 percent.

At first glance, these goals look hard to hit, at least in the next few years. Great goals for the climate and the initiative would create new opportunities for the companies involved, but are the goals attainable? What are your thoughts?