Dell First to Achieve 80 PLUS Gold Energy Efficiency

Dell (News - Alert) today became the first in its industry to achieve 80 PLUS Gold-certification for a server power supply, the latest sign that it is meeting the goal to become the "greenest" technology company on the planet, and strengthening its position as an energy-efficiency leader.

 

"When it comes to energy efficiency, our focus is clear and simple," said Albert Esser, Dell's Vice President of Power and Infrastructure Solutions. "We're designing next-generation Energy Smart technology that reflects customers' feedback, collectively avoids millions of tons of CO2 emissions and drives unprecedented cost savings."

 

The 80 PLUS certification from Energy Star and the Climate Savers Computing Initiative (News - Alert) enables manufacturers and customers to compare and contrast power supplies. Dell's new 80 PLUS Gold power supply meets July 2009 Climate Savers targets for servers more than a year ahead of schedule, which require 92 percent minimum efficiency for the power supply unit at 50 percent of rated output.

 

Earlier this month, Dell became the first major computer manufacturer to list an 80 PLUS Silver-certified power supply for its desktops. The 80 PLUS Silver certification is up to 8 percent more efficient than what is required to meet Energy Star 4.0 and also meets the July 2009 PC requirements of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative.

 

"We want to recognize Dell for taking energy-efficiency to a whole new level," said Geoff Wickes, Director at Ecos Consulting and the 80 PLUS program. "The value of 80 PLUS is made available by a partnership between manufacturers, utilities and consumers and is bringing forward new market innovations and efficiencies that are helping to enable greener IT solutions."

 

Dell has pledged to become the first in its industry to neutralize the carbon impact of worldwide operations by the end of 2008. The company, with corporate headquarters campus powered by 100 percent 'green energy', is already saving more than $3 million annually and avoiding nearly 20,000 tons of CO2 through facilities improvements and a global power-management initiative.

 

Dell's laptops and desktops, already among the industry's most energy-efficient, are being designed to consume up to 25 percent less energy by 2010 relative to systems offered today. Dell recently introduced a Vostro Energy-Smart 410 desktop computer that can save customers up to 47 percent in annual energy costs without sacrificing power and performance.

 

Last September, the company announced "Plant a Forest for Me," a program that enables organizations worldwide to share best practices and, as partners, facilitate the planting of trees in sustainably managed reforestation projects. Partners in this program include AMD (News - Alert), ABN AMRO, Ask.com, CGI, Staples, Salesforce.com (News - Alert), Targus and WellPoint.

 

Based on worldwide unit sales beginning in 2005 with power-management features enabled, Dell estimates that OptiPlex desktop systems alone have helped customers save more than $2.5 billion and avoid approximately 25 million tons of CO2. With the company's carbon intensity (CO2 emissions/revenue) among the lowest of the Fortune 50 and less than half that of its closest competitor, Dell is well on the way to fulfilling its green commitment to the planet.