The Climate Savers Computing Initiative teamed up with Together in an effort to change individual behavior and educate consumers on the importance of sustainable living practices. The average desktop PC wastes nearly half the power delivered to it. Through the promotion of energy-efficient computing practices and simple steps to reduce the environmental impact of PCs, the Climate Savers Computing Initiative is offering a solution that complements the efforts of the Together campaign.

Over the course of a year, the total amount of unnecessary energy consumed by computers worldwide is equivalent to the amount of energy used by 11 million cars. It is possible to address this problem, but it will take the collective action of individual computer users, communities, governments and business all working together toward a common goal.

About Climate Savers Computing

Leading technology firms, energy companies and NGOs came together in 2007 to form the Climate Savers Computing Initiative to help address the issue of computer energy waste. Climate Savers Computing is a non-profit organization working to cut computer power consumption in half.

By 2010, the Climate Savers Computing Initiative seeks to reduce global CO2 emissions from the operation of computers by 54 million tons per year. By turning on computer power management you can save on average 603 KWh of energy per year or nearly half a ton of CO2. With your help, this effort will lead to a 50 percent reduction in power consumption by computers by 2010.

The Climate Savers Computing Initiative would like to encourage individuals to begin greening their computing practices through a few simple changes.

1. Begin reducing your environmental impact today and pledge your support to the initiative at www.climatesaverscomputing.com.
2. Activate computer power management features on your PC or laptop. Power management places your monitor, hard drives and computer into a low-power “sleep” mode after a period of inactivity. A simple touch of the mouse or keyboard “wakes” the computer, hard drive and monitor in seconds.
3. Purchase an ENERGY STAR qualified computer for your next PC or laptop purchase. A new ENERGY STAR qualified PC or laptop uses 15 to 25 percent less energy on average than a standard new computer.

The annual CO2 savings from using power management – nearly half a ton – are more than lowering your home thermostat by two degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, washing your clothes only in cold water, or giving up your car two days out of every month.