With the increasing demand for energy and volatility in prices – as well as growing concerns about global climate change – environmentally-conscious people, organizations and businesses CAN make a difference in the world.

Universities that participate in Power Down for the Planet will help raise awareness about computer energy waste and will take real and actionable steps toward reducing their impact on the environment and creating an eco-friendly campus.

In fact, U.S. college students could save more than 1.6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year by enabling power-saving features on their desktop PCs. That equals an annual savings of more $150 million in energy costs and a 1 million-ton reduction of CO2 emissions from the operation of computers – the equivalent of taking more than 200,000 cars off the road.

By participating in the Power Down for the Planet challenge, your university will benefit in the following ways:

• Save money and energy: Implementing green computing practices such as power management and energy-efficient procurement policies will lead to lower energy costs and reduce your university’s carbon footprint.
• Community engagement: Engage students and the entire campus community in positive change and sustainable living practices.
• Leadership: Demonstrate your university’s eco-leadership – and get national publicity for your success and collective impact.
• Extend your impact: Universities and colleges can considerably extend their impact beyond school-owned computing equipment and effect change through student, faculty and staff-owned computers as well.