The Executive’s Daily Green Briefing

July 18, 2008

‘Green Computing’ Vague, Misleading

cdp.jpgThe Carbon Disclosure Project says the notion of green computing is unhelpful and makes it harder for companies to implement policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, TechWorld reports.

Surveying 11 enterprises about their environmental policies, the project found that the term “green,” received heavy criticism. The report said the word was too misleading and is void of “the specific definitions needed to manage carbon and/or other greenhouse gas emissions.”

“The need to set definitions is a thorny one, as different companies offer different power ratings for servers,” according to the article. This is because there are no standards that apply across all companies or all sectors. CDP spokesman Marieke Beckmann agrees, adding that many organizations don’t have an accurate definition of carbon emissions.

Produced in conjunction with IBM, the report set out ways companies could set guidelines on how to reduce carbon emissions.

Companies can start by:
1.    Setting definitions for carbon emissions
2.    Appointing a carbon information manager
3.    Having more detailed electricity billing,
4.    Charting the departmental use of carbon
5.    Taking advantage of videoconferencing and IM
6.    Reducing business travels

The EPA plans to have its first Energy Star rating for servers ready by the end of the year.

ADVERTISERS

Join the Discussion

Today's News

The Evolving Green Challenge for Manufacturing

The Evolving Green Challenge for Manufacturing

Unless you have been incommunicado for the last few years, you realize that the focus on green manufacturing has swept across Europe, ... continue »

COP 15 Offers Communications Opportunities
Greening the Apparel Supply Chain: Tapping the Power of Collective Leverage
Sustainability and its Impact on Brand Value
The Advertising Industry, Sustainability and the Bottom Line
Cause Marketing Can Result In Sales Lift

Cause Marketing Can Result In Sales Lift

Cause-related marketing can exponentially increase sales, in one case as much as 74 percent, resulting in millions of dollars in potential revenue ...

click to view full size chart »

$5.2 Billion Invested in Cleantech Since January 2007
Green Efforts Insignificant in Winning, Keeping 3PL Business
Google Says Its Data Centers Most Efficient
Plastic From Plants Gets Some Airtime

Plastic From Plants Gets Some Airtime

Short video from an NBC affiliate on new developments in using plants to create sustainable packaging....

click to view video »

Geothermal Could Be Answer To Countering Climate Change
Miller Recycles 99.9% of Packaging Waste
Credit Crunch Could Hurt Mitsubishi’s Eco-Car Push
The Bottom Line

Marketing

Apple Unveils ‘Industry’s Greenest Notebook’

Cause Marketing Can Result In Sales Lift

Green Mountain Coffee Helps Vermont Cut Energy Use

Emissions

Owens Corning To Cut GHG Emissions 25%

CEA Saving Energy With Expanded Telework Policy

Italy’s Metal Industry: EU’s Carbon Law Hurts Competitiveness

Hi-Tech

Top 10 Low Power Desktop PCs

Survey: Apple Most Eco-Friendly, Greenpeace Says Different

Google Says Its Data Centers Most Efficient

Efficiency

Sears Tower Spending $145 Million On Green - Turbines, Solar In Mix

Dairy’s Carbon Footprint Drops to 12 Pounds Per Gallon

California Tops ACEEE’s State Energy Efficiency Scorecard

Manufacturing

The Evolving Green Challenge for Manufacturing

World Steel Association Publishes Sustainability Report

Greening the Apparel Supply Chain: Tapping the Power of Collective Leverage

Carbon Offsets/RECs

Want A Smaller Carbon Footprint? Pick A Different Ruler

Financial Crisis Threatens EU’s Carbon Plans

Pepsi Bottling Group Cuts 16,000 Tons of Plastic in 2007

CSR Reports

AT&T Releases Sustainability Report

Autodesk HQ Cuts Emissions with Lighting Upgrades

Staples Saved Over 540,000 Gallons of Diesel in 2007

Major Players

PR Agency Warned Starbucks About Wasteful Water Policy

Sun, Pfizer Surpass Carbon Reduction Goals

Green Efforts Insignificant in Winning, Keeping 3PL Business

See All Topics »