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The City of Boston has reduced PC energy use by an average of 44 percent on all computers, 1,500 of them, using Verdiem's SURVEYOR software. It is saving an average of 180 kWh of electricity or about $25 per PC annually. The city installed this software on all PCs at Boston City Hall in February 2007.

Thomas M. Menino, mayor of Boston, said: "From our green building requirements to our clean vehicle policies, sustainability is a critical component of the City of Boston's future. Using Verdiem's SURVEYOR demonstrates the city's commitment to lead by example by reducing energy use and harmful greenhouse gas emissions while saving taxpayer money."

Studies show that PCs and monitors use as much as 14 percent of all power consumed in office environments. By using Verdiem's SURVEYOR, organisations like the City of Boston can centrally manage the sleep, shut down and wake cycles to eliminate PC power waste and reduce spending on energy. Verdiem and its customers are helping to reduce global warming and CO2 emissions. Based on its existing customer base, annual use of Verdiem technology reduces greenhouse gas emissions at a rate equal to taking more than 8,000 passenger cars off the road for an entire year, or conserving 4,317,988 gallons of gasoline.

Bill Oates, Boston's CIO, said the software cost the city $25 for each PC license, and based on projections, it will save the city $25 per PC annually. "So we believe that after the first year we will have covered the cost of the license," Oates said. After that, "we'll save about $30,000 annually." He said the city is looking into deploying the software across other city buildings.

Kevin Klustner, Verdiem's CEO, enthused: "The residents of Boston are justifiably proud of their beautiful and historic city. They can take equal pride in the city's commitment to a green future. By deploying SURVEYOR, Mayor Menino is reducing the city's spending on energy and increasing its sustainability." His form made about $37,500 revenue from the deal.

He said the client server software centrally monitors the behaviors of the users and places the PCs into lower power settings when they're not in use, such as when a user is in a meeting, at lunch, or has gone home for the evening.

Under Mayor Menino's leadership, solar installations have been placed on a number of municipal buildings; the city has undertaken a large-scale retrofit of its school bus fleet of 500 school buses, using ultra low sulphur diesel, and are being equipped with pollution control technologies. This reduces tailpipe emissions by more than 90 percent. The city has completed an installation of 25 combined heat and power units, a key element of the Boston Public Schools overall energy management program. This saves taxpayers at least $8 million annually. Boston was also recognized as a national leader by the EPA's Green Power Partnership Program.

Compared to these initiatives the PC energy-saving one is perhaps small potatoes - no money is saved in the first year at all - but, none the less, worthwhile.

About Verdiem

Verdiem is a developer of power management software for PC networks. Its SURVEYOR provides measurable energy and cost savings, simplified and automated management of PC power options, and painless implementation that comes with minimal maintenance and a rapid payback. The development of SURVEYOR was funded in part by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and the software is approved as a conservation measure by utilities and power producers throughout North America. Verdiem is a recognized EPA ENERGY STAR Buildings Program partner and was recently awarded Premier Partner status in the U.S. Department of Energy's Rebuild America program.

See also Always-on PCs waste $500 million a year.

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