March 28th, 2007
HP aims to cut energy consumption; Going green morphs to marketing
Hewlett-Packard plans to cut its global energy use by 20 percent by 2010.
Energy consumption has become a big issue in information technology and a major marketing push for vendors. While HP's goal is commendable it will also be used as a marketing pitch. After all, if HP can cut energy consumption by using its own products and processes the company will be sure to pitch technology managers on the same solutions. AMD has also used the energy consumption playbook in recent years to better compete with Intel.
HP plans to hit its target by delivering energy-efficient products and services to customers making its facilities more efficient.
Here's how HP plans to reach its goal by 2010:
- Introduce select HP desktop business PCs that offer 80 percent efficient power supplies. The new power supplies are 33 percent more efficient than their predecessors;
- Use HP's energy management system–Dynamic Smart Cooling–to cut energy costs.
- Use redesigned print cartridge packaging for North America that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 37 million pounds in 2007.
HP's statement then goes on to outline a series of product pitches that can help customers cut energy consumption. Rest assured you'll be seeing more of these announcements–in fact IBM and HP have already sparred over energy claims and data center cooling. If vendors can convince CIOs that their gear can cut energy consumption they'll benefit greatly. A decrease in energy use may be able to justify the return on investment for a host of IT projects.
Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and Editorial Director of ZDNet sister site TechRepublic. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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