New Energy Star Computers Could Save $1.8 Billion Over 5 Years

More than 500 computer products are now meeting new Energy Star standards that took effect in July, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Thanks to the efforts of more than 35 manufacturers, a wide range of computer products now include internal power supplies that are at least 80% efficient, that is, less than 20% of the power fed into them is lost as heat. The new standard applies to desktop and notebook (or laptop) computers, game consoles, integrated computer systems, desktop-derived servers, and workstations. If every U.S. household and business replaced their old computers with new Energy Star-qualified models, the nation would save more than $1.8 billion in energy costs over the next five years. The Energy Star program is a joint effort of DOE and the EPA. See the EPA press release, the product list (MS Excel 142 KB), and the computers section of the Energy Star Web site.

Mass production of the tiny energy-sipping OX laptop began at Quanta Computer in Taiwan on November 6th. Credit: OLPC

One of the more remarkable computers on the Energy Star list is the XO laptop, created by a non-profit organization called One Laptop Per Child (OLPC). The laptop consumes one-tenth the electricity of a typical laptop, using only two watts during normal operation and one watt while idle. This allows it to be recharged with a manual crank, so it can be used in areas without electrical power. The organization aims to distribute the laptop to children in developing countries, with the goal of providing every child in the world with access to knowledge and modern forms of education. Mass production of the XO laptop started on November 6th at Quanta Computer in Taiwan. See the OLPC Web site and Wiki.

In other Energy Star news, four JCPenney stores in the state of Washington are the first retail buildings in the country to earn the Energy Star label for superior energy efficiency and environmental performance. Located in the towns of Puyallup, Vancouver, Bellevue and Burlington, the four stores use about 35% less energy than typical retail stores nationwide. Compared to similar stores nationwide, the JCPenney stores collectively spend almost $250,000 less per year on energy. As of October 1st, retail buildings can qualify for the Energy Star label if they rate in the top 25 percent of similar retail buildings nationwide. See the EPA press release and the retail buildings section of the Energy Star Web site.

Range Fuels Breaks Ground on Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

Range Fuels, Inc. broke ground on November 6th on one of the nation's first commercial cellulosic ethanol plants. Range Fuels is one of six companies selected by DOE for financial support in building commercial cellulosic ethanol plants and is the first to break ground. The plant will be located near the town of Soperton, Georgia, and will draw on gasification technology to convert wood and wood waste from Georgia's pine forests and mills into 20 million gallons of ethanol per year. Construction of the first phase is expected to be completed next year. DOE will provide $50 million in support of the first phase of construction and will provide another $26 million for the first expansion phase, which will increase its capacity to 30 million gallons of ethanol per year. The company plans to eventually expand the plant to an annual capacity of 100 million gallons of ethanol per year.

The Soperton plant will be fueled with wood and wood waste to minimize its reliance on fossil fuels. And in a state that's currently racked with drought, the Soperton plant will consume only one-quarter of the water consumed by today's corn ethanol plants. Range Fuels estimates that Georgia could produce enough cellulosic biomass to support up to two billion gallons of ethanol production using the company's technology. See the Range Fuels press release.

Maine PUC Launches Carbon-Free Homes Project

The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has launched a web-based initiative designed to provide electricity consumers with basic information on energy efficiency and clean energy. Through the 10,000 Carbon Free Homes project, Mainers can calculate the carbon emissions released into the air from their home's energy use, find out what to do to reduce energy use through efficiency, and sign up for either renewable electricity or to purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) in order to offset their carbon emissions. By April 22, 2008 (Earth Day), the PUC hopes to have 10,000 homes enrolled in the project, which would represent about 2% of total state households.

EarthColor Purchases 100% Wind Energy

EarthColor, Inc., a New Jersey-based commercial printing company, announced that it has entered into an agreement with Community Energy, Inc. to purchase wind energy equal to 100% of its electric energy usage at its facility locations across the United States. Under the agreement, EarthColor will buy a total of 25 million kWh of wind energy annually for the next three years for its facilities in Arizona, New Jersey, New York, Florida and Texas. The renewable energy purchase is the largest in the U.S. printing industry according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership.

Segway to Purchase RECs for PT Customers

Segway Inc. announced a program through which it will purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) to offset the electricity used by Segway Personal Transporters (PT) purchased in 2007. The objective of the program is to replace the annual electricity used to charge a Segway PT, estimated at 200 kWh, with electricity from renewable sources such as solar, wind and geothermal. Any commercial or consumer customer who purchases a unit in 2007 is eligible to register to have RECs purchased on their behalf.

PepsiCo Makes Nation's Largest RECs Purchase

PepsiCo, one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, announced that it will purchase enough Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) to match the purchased electricity used by all PepsiCo U.S.-based manufacturing facilities, headquarters, distribution centers and regional offices. The three-year purchase totals more than one billion kWh annually, making PepsiCo the nation's largest corporate purchaser of RECs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Green Power Partnership. The RECs are being supplied by Sterling Planet, which will seek to source the RECs to model PepsiCo's purchased electricity use geographically.

Baxter Headquarters Goes 'Carbon Neutral' with RECs Purchase

Baxter International Inc., a global health care company, announced that it has purchased 15.5 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) to match the annual electricity use of its corporate headquarters in Deerfield, Ill. The company is also offsetting its natural gas use by purchasing credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange, of which Baxter is one of the founding members. The RECs are being supplied by Constellation NewEnergy from wind projects located across the country.