Dell Challenges Computer Companies to Green IT

The magazine's first event dedicated to green topics and trends gathered business and environmental leaders, executives, academics, politicians and NGOs. They considered the impact of the green movement and explored opportunities and challenges facing FORTUNE 500 companies, the financial world, entrepreneurs, and government in view of a warming world.

Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive Dell Inc. (Photo courtesy Dell)

"Ten years from now, we will look back and credit 'green' IT for helping to mitigate the effects posed by climate change, strengthen global industries and chart a new and prosperous low-carbon economy," said Dell. "It's a historic opportunity that we must act on now."

Dell showed the company's smallest and most environmentally-responsible consumer desktop PC, set for release later this year.About 80 percent percent smaller than a standard mini-tower desktop, it uses up to 70 percent less energy and comes in recycled and recyclable packaging.

A recent study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy found that information technology is already providing the U.S. economy energy savings.

For every one kilowatt-hour of electricity used by IT, ten kilowatt-hours of electricity are saved when IT-enabled benefits are accounted for - such as virtualization, energy-efficient computing, telecommuting and online transactions.

"Connecting with customers, employees and suppliers means understanding and sharing their commitment to green ideas and innovation," said Dell. "Today, I'm extending my challenge to every technology company to make the environment both a business priority and daily conversation, from energy efficiency and environmentally-responsible products, to carbon neutrality and free recycling for consumers."

Earlier this month, Dell announced that its corporate headquarters campus is powered with 100 percent 'green' energy. The company's carbon intensity - CO2 emissions as compared to revenue - is among the lowest of the Fortune 50 and less than half that of its closest competitor.

Dell enables its customers to offset the carbon impact of the electricity required to power their computer equipment through the company's "Plant a Tree for Me" program.

The company is matching consumer and small and medium business contributions of $2 made during laptop purchases and $6 made during desktop purchases in celebration of Earth Day.

Dell offers the industry's only free recycling program for consumers. In 2006, the company recycled more than 78 million pounds of computer equipment worldwide, a 93 percent increase over 2005.

This put the company ahead of schedule in achieving a goal of recycling 275 million pounds of equipment by 2009.

Last year, on World Environment Day June 5, Dell announced the company would partner with the global computer ReGeneration - to become the "greenest" technology company on the planet.

Today, Dell also announced plans to convene a formal ReGeneration Advisory Group to advise and guide the movement.

The group will include Alexandra Cousteau, president of EarthEcho International and granddaughter of marine biologist Jacques Cousteau; Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones and avid tree farmer and conservationist; and Laura Turner Seydel, eco-living expert and chairman of the Captain Planet Foundation.

The company today also announced five finalists in its International Green Computing Technology Design Competition. Full details on the advisory board and design competition are available at ReGeneration.org.

Dell partners with The Conservation Fund through "Plant a Tree for Me" and "Plant a Forest for Me," programs that enable its customers to offset the carbon impact of electricity required to power computer equipment. Already, the fund has restored nearly 20,000 acres of forestlands and planted more than eight million trees through its carbon sequestration programs.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.