ecoIron - All these whirring boxes.

Computing, over in the UK, has launched a Green Computing Campaign to raise environmental awareness and cut costs in IT departments. They have a whole list of companies that have signed up for the campaign, including Llloyd TSB, Centrica, Network Rail, and many others. They have a charter with seven guidelines:

• 1. Find out how much energy your IT systems use and monitor ongoing consumption levels.
• 2. Ensure unused equipment is turned off when it is not being used.
• 3. Educate staff to the benefits of saving energy and recycling.
• 4. Establish a code of practice designed to minimise unnecessary printing.
• 5. Identify IT management practices that reduce power consumption.
• 6. When purchasing new IT equipment, chose energy-saving devices that have been manufactured in an environmentally-conscious fashion.
• 7. Dispose of old hardware responsibly; send old PCs to be reconditioned and recycled.

This pretty much covers the basics of any green computing program. While it doesn't directly cover more advanced topics such as telecommuting, virtualization, thin clients, etc., it does get them to drink the 'power and printing' kool aid. Ummm, tasty.