Green IT

Google files patent for wave-powered floating data center

Google sees the future of computing at sea.

The search giant has filed a patent for a "floating data center" that uses wave motion to power on-board computers and the ocean's water to cool them.

The patent was submitted in February last year but was spotted in the U.S. Patent & Trademark office's electronic filings and posted at Slashdot on Saturday.

The system Google engineers sketch out is a self-powered data center placed three to seven miles offshore, potentially operating off the grid. Standard shipping containers would house racks of computers that could be transported … Read more

Clean-tech group forms to support Obama

SAN FRANCISCO--Executives in the clean-tech sector plan to get a whole lot louder in their support for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

The drumbeat started Wednesday night here at the University of California's Hastings College of Law. An estimated 400 people from the technology and clean tech industries came out to support Obama's energy policies under the new banner of a constituency group called "Clean Tech and Green Business for Obama."

Among the executives at the event were Dan Reicher, director of energy initiatives at Google.org; clean-tech investor Sunil Paul, who co-founded Brightmail; Steve Westly, … Read more

TechForward: Tech recycling for the upgrade-happy

As people buy more electronic stuff, there's growing concern over hazardous electronic waste. A number of new companies are trying to keep that gear from fouling up landfills--and make a buck while doing it.

TechForward's spin on electronic recycling is getting consumers to think ahead and plan on returning their gadgets for resale.

The business model of the 3-year-old company, based in Los Angeles, is to sell consumers a buy-back deal at the point of sale. So when you buy a shiny new iPod or digital camera, you can plan on selling it back in two years.

TechForward … Read more

Dell claims to be carbon-neutral

Dell has claimed it is now officially a carbon-neutral company--five months ahead of its own projected schedule.

The target was apparently met through improved energy efficiency at Dell's own facilities, combined with "green" electricity purchases and investments in wind power in the U.S., China, and India, totaling 645 million kilowatt-hours and creating savings of 400,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Dell has invested $3 billion annually in green energy, and its consumption of green energy has increased almost tenfold to 116 million kWh in four years.

Dane Parker, Dell's global environment, health, and safety … Read more

Green news harvest: Solar iPhone case, clean tech bucks economic blues

A sampling of green-tech news with quick commentary.

The greenest laptop computers--MetaEfficient ReviewsIt also listed the greenest desktop PCs this week. Suniva and Solon announce supply contract worth more than $500 million--press releaseBig endorsement of solar start-up Suniva, which was spun off from Georgia Tech earlier this year.

Solar-powered case for iPhone 3G--Mobile FunLooks cool, but won't it make the device really hot? Clean tech: One sector is bucking global economic blues--WSJ.comNew numbers show big solar and second-generation biofuels still getting the most money. Dark clouds are the iffy IPO market and a potential … Read more

Edison: Free energy-saving PC software

Although power management software has been around for years, there's clearly room for improvement, particularly with rising energy prices and environmental awareness.

Start-up Verdiem on Wednesday released software called Edison that makes it easy for people to schedule when a PC goes into a low power consumption mode at home or at work.

Verdiem's CEO, Kevin Klustner, is scheduled to highlight Edison and PC energy consumption during a conference call with Microsoft's chief environmental strategist, Robert Benard, and Intel's Lorie Wigle, president of the Climate Savers computing industry consortium.

PCs can consume as much as 10 … Read more

Data center gets highest green-building rating

The answer to cooling ADC's data centers is blowing in the wind.

The company on Tuesday detailed the workings of what it says will be the first Platinum level LEED-certified data center hosting facility.

Rather than rely exclusively on air conditioners to push cold air from beneath computer racks, the building will pipe in outdoor air for cooling for most of the year.

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, done by the U.S. Green Building Council, rates buildings on a range of environmental factors, including energy and water usage, materials, and site location. The platinum … Read more

Accenture offers software to 'green' a business

Consulting firm Accenture released software on Wednesday built to help companies improve energy efficiency and reduce waste. The Accenture Green Technology Suite measures the "green" aspects of a corporation's information technology practices, data centers, and office operations.

The company provides a Flash-based snapshot of the tools on its Web site.

"By implementing the specific, tailored green recommendations, organizations can achieve measurable environmental improvements that contribute to bottom line savings," said Steve Nunn, who heads Accenture's green IT programs.

Companies are increasingly fine-tuning software and Web-based tools to count carbons, to maximize energy efficiency, and … Read more

California Clean Tech Open names 44 finalists

The California Clean Tech Open, dubbed the "start-up in a box" contest, named 44 finalists Tuesday. It awards $100,000 in cash, office space, and professional services to each of the six winners. Categories are air, water, and waste; energy efficiency; green building; renewables; smart power; and transportation.

The Google-sponsored contest, run by the nonprofit Acterra, touts success stories such as GreenVolts, which makes photovoltaic solar concentrating systems, and BuildFast, which sells eco-friendly house kits for developing regions. Contest organizers said that tech for the developing world has become an increasing area of focus.

Prizes are due to … Read more