Dell Defining What It Means To Be ‘Green’ In Technology

Dell today marked the one-year anniversary of its commitment to be the “greenest technology company on the planet” by reporting the company’s largest single-year product recycling volume, becoming the first major computer manufacturer to offer Silver 80 PLUS-certified power supplies and demonstrating significant progress in its global zero-carbon initiative.

• Recycles More Than 100 Million Pounds of Equipment in 2007
• Energy-Efficiency Initiatives, 80 PLUS Power Supplies Driving Unprecedented Customer Savings
• Partners with The Climate Group’s “Together” Campaign Launching Today

“Our customers and stakeholders are inspiring us to lead a new era of environmental responsibility,” said Tod Arbogast, director of sustainable business for Dell. “We are at a historic point in time when the combined efforts of companies, customers, employees and suppliers will make the critical changes to protect our shared Earth.”

2007 Product Recycling Results

Dell reported recovery of 102 million pounds of IT equipment from customers during 2007, a 20 percent increase over 2006. The company has continued to enhance options for consumer recycling. In addition to its industry leading free home pick-up program, Dell continues to expand its Reconnect alliance with Goodwill. Consumers can now take advantage of free and convenient recycling at 370 attended drop-off Reconnect locations in 24 U.S. markets.

The company also continues to lead the industry in setting responsible recycling standards, including minimization of landfill globally, no export of waste and regular third-party audits of materials disposition. Dell remains the only major computer manufacturer to offer free recycling for consumers worldwide.

“Together”

Dell today also announced that it is partnering with The Climate Group’s “Together” initiative, a consumer-engagement campaign that brings together companies, cities and non-profit organizations to help Americans reduce their impact on the planet. In addition to expanding its Energy Smart and “Plant a Tree for Me” programs in the coming months, Dell will work with The Climate Group to provide consumers additional tools and resources to manage and reduce energy consumption.

Customer Savings Through Energy Efficiency

Dell remains focused on helping customers meet their own efficiency goals by working to provide products with the most performance per watt. Since 2005, the company’s client desktop systems alone have helped customers save more than $2.5 billion and avoid approximately 24 million tons of CO2.

The company today became the first major computer manufacturer to offer desktop customers Silver 80 PLUS-certified power supplies. The 80 PLUS specification aligns to the power-supply requirements in the EPA’s Energy Star 4.0 standard for computers and requires the use of 80 percent or more efficient power supplies. 80 PLUS Silver supplies are up to 8 percent more efficient than what’s required to meet Energy Star 4.0 compliance and meet the July 2009 qualifications of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative more than a year ahead of schedule.

Last month, Dell announced the company’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 announced the introduction of a Vostro Energy-Smart 410 desktop computer that can save customers up to 47 percent in annual energy costs1 without sacrificing power and performance.

Dell committed in September to make company operations carbon neutral by the end of 2008 and is ahead of plan in meeting that goal. Operational efficiency improvements in company facilities are saving the company approximately $2 million in operating costs per year.

In April, Dell announced that its corporate headquarters campus is powered with 100 percent ‘green’ energy. Increasing use of green power is locking in Dell’s energy prices as cost for traditional energy is expected to continue to rise.

The company’s carbon intensity (CO2 emissions/revenue) is among the lowest of the Fortune 50 and less than half that of its closest competitor.

In September 2007, Dell 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 include AMD, ABN AMRO, Ask.com, CGI, Staples, Salesforce.com, Targus and WellPoint.

Dell Global Headquarters Campus Going 100 Percent Green

Dell is now powering 100 percent of its 2.1 million square-foot global headquarters campus, home to more than 10,000 employees, with 100 percent green power, the latest step in meeting the company’s 2008 carbon neutral commitment.

• Green Power Supplied by Waste Management’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant and TXU Energy Wind Power
• Company Ahead of Schedule to Meet Carbon-Neutrality Commitment

“It’s time for our industry to take a lead role in creating a clean energy future,” said Paul Bell, president, Dell Americas. “Today, we are challenging every technology company to work with their suppliers and partners in integrating green power and energy-efficient strategies into their operations.”

“Powering an entire campus with green power, in partnership with these two leading companies, is an important step in becoming the greenest technology company on the planet and the right thing to do for our shared earth,” said Mr. Bell. “At the same time we’re using green technology to drive operating expense down.”

Dell is using all of the power generated from Waste Management’s Austin Community Landfill gas-to-energy plant, meeting 40 percent of Dell headquarters’ campus power needs. The remaining 60 percent comes from existing wind farms and is provided by TXU Energy.
Dell also announced today it is increasing green power use for its Austin Parmer Campus, provided by Austin Energy, from eight to 17 percent. The company is a leading participant in Austin Energy’s GreenChoice® power program. Dell also is powering its Twin Falls, Idaho, facility with 100 percent green power, 97 percent of which is wind power and three percent solar.

In September 2007, Dell announced it would make company owned and leased facilities “carbon neutral” in 2008 through a strategy of improving energy-efficiency in its operations and maximizing the purchase of renewable power. This commitment is part of the company’s climate strategy which also seeks to minimize carbon impact of supplier operations and customer product use.

Operational initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce electricity use already implemented on Dell’s central Texas campuses are expected to save the company nearly $2 million annually in operating costs and cutting CO2 equivalent emissions by nearly 12,000 tons per year. The purchase of green power gives Dell price certainty on its operational costs for power, and the company expects it may see cost benefits to using green power in the future.

Dell’s green technology solutions include the OptiPlex 755 and Inspiron 531 desktops, Latitude D630 laptop, PowerEdge M-Series blades and PowerEdge Energy Smart servers. The company’s desktop systems alone have helped customers save more than $2.2 billion and avoid approximately 22.4 million tons of CO2.

“We’re very pleased that our Austin Community Landfill’s gas to energy project will play a key role in Dell’s commitment to using renewable energy. This project is part of our company’s environmental initiative to increase the production of waste based energy. Today, we create enough energy for the equivalent of 1 million homes each year and by 2020 we expect to double that output, producing enough energy for the equivalent of more than 2 million homes,” said David Steiner, chief executive officer of Waste Management, Inc.

“This is yet another example of TXU Energy’s commitment to offering renewable power choices that are good for business and the environment,” said Jim Burke, chief executive officer for TXU Energy “TXU Energy is dedicated to improving our use of renewable power and encouraging greater energy efficiency, both of which help preserve our environment.”

“For Dell to partner with Waste Management and TXU to source renewable energy on this scale is great news,” said Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group. “Greening the company’s Texas operations not only underpins Dell’s bold carbon neutral commitment but helps drive clean energy investment and tackles climate change.”