PC Makers Aim for Common Energy Achievements

Put HP and Dell into the same sentence and typically it’ll be all about how the two computer makers are trying to push each other out of market and grab user base.

But in some cases, such as environmental initiatives, the quest to outdo each other is much more philanthropic than economic, with both tech leaders reporting advancements this week in energy reduction and energy efficiency efforts. It's just really good news by companies who are struggling like every other in a dismal economy these days.

HP’s set up some new goals to cut its energy use and carbon intensity within operations. That’s after already attaining the goal of reducing combined energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2010 by 25 percent.

Now it wants to slice energy consumption and associated GHG emissions of all its products to 40 percent below 2005 levels by the end of 2011.

“HP continues to build and report on transparent programs that support environmental sustainability as a global business strategy,” said Shane Robison, HP executive vice president and chief strategy and technology officer, in a press statement. “By shedding light on our energy use and carbon footprint – and by extension our customers and partners – we’re driving greater efficiency across the global economy.”

Dell’s announced that it has cut total electricity consumption in fiscal year 2009 by almost 3 percent and boosted renewable electricity adoption by 436 percent, with carbon emission reduced 18 percent compared to last year.

That reduction includes an estimated 12.4 percent drop in scope 1 emissions (which are tied to operational heating, cooling and its car fleet). Dell has also achieved about an 18.8 percent drop in scope 2 net emissions (these are emissions created in the production of the electricity purchased for buildings and on-site activities).

“While we continue to make progress, we remain focused on our ultimate goal – to achieve a 40 percent reduction of global GHG emissions by 2015,” said Dane Parker, Dell’s director of global environment, health and safety, in a statement. “By improving energy efficiency in our operations, purchasing more renewable energy and continuing to evaluate clean and renewable sources of energy, we’re confident we can meet this ambitious target.”

Here's hoping that both HP and Dell both win in the battle to save the environment.

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng