Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Dell, Lenovo Join Campaign To Fight Global Climate Change

Dell and Lenovo are joining several dozen companies, cities and non-profit organizations to launch a campaign to fight global climate change.

The campaign, called Together, is an initiative backed by The Climate Group. To date, the organization claims to have helped consumers save more than 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide and more than $200 million on household energy bills.

The Together initiative, first launched in the U.K. last year, was created to promote products, services and initiatives that offer measurable energy-saving results, according to The Climate Group. The organization plans to use a third party, Environmental Resources Management, to verify savings for every Together solution.

"Climate change is a global issue that requires a global response," said Dr. Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group, in a statement. "Following a successful first year in the U.K., we're proud to announce the U.S. launch of Together. With plans for an international rollout to Australia, China and India, Together is poised to engage citizens of the biggest greenhouse-gas-emitting nations in the world."

Dell and Lenovo are joined by Chase, MySpace, Nestle Waters, RecycleBank, smart USA, Target and Timberland; the cities of Boston, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Seattle; and nonprofits including ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, The American Red Cross in Greater New York, Climate Counts, Global Footprint Network, Mercy Corps, National Wildlife Federation and The Center for a New American Dream. Dozens more are set to join in the coming months. MTV, News Corporation and Time Warner have joined the campaign as media partners.

"We are at a historic point in time when the combined efforts of the 'ReGeneration'--people of all ages around the world--are coming together to protect our shared Earth. In partnering with The Climate Group in launching Together, we're helping the ReGeneration share meaningful actions that protect our environment," said Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell.

Dell, which claims to be the first major computer manufacturer to offer Silver 80 PLUS-certified power supplies, reported that it recovered 102 million pounds of IT equipment from customers during 2007, a 20 percent increase from the previous year. The 80 PLUS specification meets the EPA's Energy Star 4.0 standard that requires the use of 80 percent or more efficient power supplies.

Last month, Dell said its laptops and desktops are being designed to consume up to 25 percent less energy by 2010 relative to systems offered today. Dell also recently unveiled the Vostro Energy-Smart 410 desktop computer that can save customers up to 47 percent in annual energy costs without sacrificing power and performance. In addition, Dell is ahead of its goal to make its operations carbon-neutral by the end of 2008, according to the company.

Lenovo, for its part, has set a voluntary target of improving its operational carbon efficiency 10 percent by 2012, against a baseline of 2007, according to the company's Web site.

"It is a new world, one in which business, as arguably the most powerful institution on the planet, must accept its responsibility to address the challenges we all face. Lenovo is delighted to join Together and The Climate Group in offering sustainable solutions to the climate change challenge," said Fran O'Sullivan, Lenovo Product Group senior vice president, in a statement.

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