Little Miss Enviro Geek : 7 day Green IT blogfest

Some personal news...

biwirth — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:24:00 GMT

Hello Dear Blog Readers,

(hmmm....that kinda sounds like the beginning of one of those SPAM emails)

I wanted to let you all know I am moving on from Microsoft and shall no longer be blogging here. I'll be moving an archive of these posts to my website http://www.greenitstrategy.com and shall continue blogging there on Green IT.

So what will I be doing now?

Well, I have decided to take some time off, write a book and maybe look into starting my own business. Regardless, you can always catch me through my website and please do feel free to visit me there.

Thank you to everyone who contacted me with their Green IT questions over the past two years and gave me feedback. I really appreciate your support and good luck with your own Green IT initiatives.

Kind Regards,

Bianca AKA Little Miss Enviro Geek

** Green IT Blogfest: Day 7: Sustainable Packaging Coalition

biwirth — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:38:00 GMT

What is it?

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition is a coalition of businesses that provided education, resources and tools to promote more environmentally sustainable packaging design, use and recycling.

What does Microsoft do with them?

Microsoft is on the executive committee for the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.

What can you do?

If you are a government agency or business with a strong interest in packaging, you can become a Sustainable Packaging Coalition Member
Review their current projects and get involved
Attend one of their Open Forum meetings in the US

More Information

Sustainable Packaging Coalition - http://www.sustainablepackaging.org/

** Green IT Blogfest: Day 6: Green IT Alliance

biwirth — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:38:00 GMT

What is it?

The Green IT Alliance (GITA) in a non-profit organisation focussing on the integration of technologies across green buildings and green IT with lab testing and real-world pilots.

What does Microsoft do with them?

Microsoft is a Platinum sponsor of GITA, providing over $250,000 worth of software to help with their projects accelerating energy efficient data centre design and green IT initiatives.

What can you do?

Attend an event that GITA will present at or attend
Attend GITA training
Join GITA to become actively engaged in research and pilot projects

More Information

Green IT Alliance - http://www.gitalliance.org/default.asp

Green IT Blogfest: Day 5: Project 2 Degrees

biwirth — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:37:00 GMT

What is it?

The Clinton Foundation and Microsoft have teamed up to help cities across the world monitor, compare and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a free web based application. Cities in a number of countries are participating including:

Chicago, US
Rotterdam, Amsterdam
Sydney, Australia

What does Microsoft do with them?

Microsoft co-developed the initiative with The Clinton Foundation.

What can you do?

Watch the Carbon Tracker demo
Read the best practices from cities around the world
Read the supporting documents for greenhouse gas measurement including the International Local Government GHG Emissions Analysis Protocol, International Energy Agency: Energy Statistics Manual, IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories and International Standards Organization (ISO) 14064 and 14065

More Information

Project 2 Degrees - http://www.project2degrees.org/Pages/Default.aspx

Microsoft and Project 2 Degrees - http://www.microsoft.com/environment/Project2Degrees.aspx

Green IT Blogfest: Day 4: EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres

biwirth — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:36:00 GMT

What is it?

The European Commission Joint Research Centre recently released their voluntary Code of Conduct for Data Centres, focussing on energy efficiency. The code consists of:

An introductory guide
The official code of conduct
Best practice guidelines

What does Microsoft do with them?

Microsoft helped to develop the code of conduct standard.

What can you do?

Register to participate in the EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres
Even if you aren't in Europe, you can read the best practices guide and implement their guidelines to gain efficiencies

More Information

EU Data Centre Energy Efficiency Code of Conduct - http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/energyefficiency/html/standby_initiative_data%20centers.htm

Green IT Blogfest: Day 3: US EPA Energy Star

biwirth — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:35:00 GMT

What is it?

The US EPA develops standards for energy efficiency across many electronics and technologies. In Australia we also adopt these standards. On the computing side, they have so far developed Energy Star for:

What does Microsoft do with them?

Microsoft is currently working with the US EPA on their Energy Star program to develop specific requirements for PCs, servers and data centres. Plus we have developed a System Centre Configuration Pack which you can download for free to identify PC settings against Energy Star standards.

In the US we are also working with them on the Energy Star Low Carbon IT Campaign, which provides free expertise, carbon and energy savings estimation, a certificate of recognition, template materials for publicity and possibly national exposure for companies that join up!

What can you do?

Buy computing and electronic devices that are Energy Star certified (see each link above in the "What is it?" section to find certified products)
If you own System Centre, download the System Centre Configuration Pack
Listen to the Energy Star podcasts
If you are in the US, find Energy Star products with rebates

More Information

Energy Star for Office Appliances - http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductCategory&pcw_code=OEF

Microsoft and Energy Star - http://www.microsoft.com/environment/energy_star.aspx

** Green IT Blogfest: Day 2: The Green Grid

biwirth — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:33:00 GMT

What is it?

The Green Grid is a consortia of industry players focussing on data centre energy efficiency. The provide information on:

Developing metrics and user-centric models
Developing and promoting adoption of energy efficiency standards, methodologies and technologies

What does Microsoft do with them?

Microsoft is a board member and active participant of The Green Grid, helping develop metrics and standards and promoting awareness of energy efficiency in the data centre.

What can you do?

Use their tools like the Data Centre Cooling Calculator I have previously blogged about
Read their newsletters, presentations, tools and whitepapers
Attend a Green Grid event
Read what others are saying on their forum
Become a Green Grid Member

More Information

The Green Grid - http://www.thegreengrid.org

Microsoft and The Green Grid - http://www.microsoft.com/environment/our_commitment/articles/green_grid.aspx

Green IT Blogfest: Day 1: Climate Savers

biwirth — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:32:00 GMT

What is it?

Climate Savers is a non-profit organisation that brings together consumers, businesses and non-government organisations (NGOs) with the goal of reducing carbon emissions from the operation of computers by 54 million tonnes per year by 2010.

What does Microsoft do with them?

Microsoft is a board member and active participant of Climate Savers.

What can you do?

Check out their "3 steps to going green" - can you tick each one of these?
Pledge your support or become a member
Stay informed by signing up to their newsletter

More Information

Climate Savers - http://www.climatesavers.org

Microsoft and Climate Savers - http://www.microsoft.com/environment/our_commitment/articles/climate_savers.aspx

Green IT Blog Festival: 7 days of what we do and stuff to help you

biwirth — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:27:00 GMT

Recently a document was sent out internally in Microsoft that listed all of our partnerships with government, NGOs and other industries in relation to environment and sustainability. Although the entire document will soon be posted to www.microsoft.com/environment, I thought it would great to provide you with a short and sharp summary across the top 7 partnerships that you can also participate in and get best practices and resources from.

So starting tomorrow, for 7 days I'll blog each day on these top seven initiatives!

Enjoy and feel free to share your comments with everyone here on what you have done so far.

LMEG

Little Miss Enviro Geek : 7 day Green IT blogfest

Some personal news...

** Green IT Blogfest: Day 7: Sustainable Packaging Coalition

** Green IT Blogfest: Day 6: Green IT Alliance

** Green IT Blogfest: Day 5: Project 2 Degrees **

** Green IT Blogfest: Day 4: EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres **

** Green IT Blogfest: Day 3: US EPA Energy Star **

** Green IT Blogfest: Day 2: The Green Grid

** Green IT Blogfest: Day 1: Climate Savers **

** Green IT Blog Festival: 7 days of what we do and stuff to help you **

Green IT Blogfest: Day 5: Project 2 Degrees

Green IT Blogfest: Day 4: EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres

Green IT Blogfest: Day 3: US EPA Energy Star

Green IT Blogfest: Day 1: Climate Savers

Green IT Blog Festival: 7 days of what we do and stuff to help you