Some green news is trickling out of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, as HP yesterday committed to reduce the energy consumption of its business-based desktop and notebook PCs by 25 percent by 2010.

HP expects to reach the goal by using more efficient power supplies and lower-energy chipsets and other energy-saving technologies across its “volume” PC portfolio.

As an example, HP cites its HP Compaq dc7800 Business Desktop PC that uses the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, which the company says consumes less energy and deliver more performance than previous versions. The slim Desktop PC is 46 percent smaller than previous models and contains an 85 percent efficient power supply.

Another feature that helps reduce power usage across the HP business desktop line are optional 80 Plus power supplies, which HP says are up to 15 percent more efficient than standard power supplies.

Additionally, the Verdiem Surveyor remote power management software agent comes preloaded on all dc7800 series PCs. When activated, Surveyor can help measure, manage and reduce power consumption on PCs and monitors by up to 33 percent, or about 200 kilowatt-hours per PC annually.

HP’s 2010 goal of 25 percent energy reduction for volume desktop and notebook PCs is relative to 2005 power consumption levels, the company says..
HP says it now leads the industry in the number of Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Gold-listed products with the introduction of more than two dozen PCs registered in North America at either the Gold or Silver rating levels. EPEAT Gold computers must meet 23 environmental criteria, including the reduction of hazardous substances and Energy Star compliance.

HP says its new business products that meet the most rigorous, Gold status include the HP Compaq 2510p and HP Compaq 2710p Business Notebook series PCs and all models of the HP Compaq dc7800, dc5750 and dc5700 Business Desktop PC families.

HP also has an array of new consumer desktop and notebook PCs that are Energy Star-qualified and EPEAT Silver listed. The new notebooks include the HP Pavilion dv9700, dv6700, dv2700 and tx1000 series, along with the Compaq Presario A9000, F700 and C700 series. In desktops, HP is introducing the HP Pavilion a6360 available in North America in a variety of customizable configurations on the HP Home and Home Office online store.

Steven Castle - Contributing Writer

Steven Castle is Electronic House's managing editor. he has been writing about consumer electronics, homes and energy efficiency topics for two decades. He is also the co-founder of GreenTech Advocates.