Energy Saving News
IT sector gets energy-efficiency targets in Europe
Plans for Europe's information and communications technology (ICT) industry to become more energy efficient have been unveiled by the European Commission.
The commission wants the ICT sector to become 20 per cent more energy efficient by 2015 and has recommended that ambitious targets for energy-saving are implemented by 2011.
According to official figures, ICT equipment and services currently account for approximately eight per cent of electrical power used in the EU each year.
Viviane Reding, EU commissioner for information, society and media, said that ICT businesses can help to lead the way in promoting energy-saving techniques and creating new green jobs.
She added that energy-efficient technology is "the best way to achieve sustainable cuts in CO2 emissions" and claimed that "the ecological potential of these technologies can open up new business opportunities for European ICT companies".
Last month, American computer giant Microsoft revealed that a new energy-efficient data centre at its Redmond research site in Washington is expected to reduce carbon emissions by about 12,000 metric tonnes per year.
Monday 12th October 2009
