Just after the end of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative conference at the Googleplex, I've talked with Microsoft VP of "Special Projects", Michael Rawding, about what the company in Redmond is doing to reduce carbon emissions, etc. And so for him, the best way *TODAY* to save power with your Windows PC is:

"To go to your Windows' control panel and set the power saving features 'ON'. That's it and you'll not have to wait to have the latest power supplies and start saving power and money right away!"

Why didn't I think about? Perhaps because I have a mac ;-)

Power saving features by default on Windows Vista

"On Windows Vista it comes as a default. So when you buy your PC, we enable it by default but we're not the last one to touch the PC: the hardware manufacturer and sometimes the retailer can choose to change the defaults. And we're also enabling IT managers to set a group policy so that all [Vista] machines will be mandated to be shut down after a certain period of time", said Rawding.

Wake-up feature, less than 2 seconds on Vista

"What's better with Vista now is that it's faster to resume from the sleep stage, in less than 2 seconds. Also with prior Windows versions, it was easier for other components from other software to override the standby mode. So even though you set it, it doesn't actually come into effect. And we worked with the industry to make sure that they comply with that. Finally, in the past, it was not possible for you to actually manage multiple PCs through group policy to mandate them to be shutting down", added the Microsoft executive.

Rawding is looking at the overall sustainability work across Microsoft. New data centre does not add carbon footprint!

"We do disclose our carbon footprint. we have through the global reporting index for the last few years. and of course, like everybody else we are trying to figure out ways we can continue to reduce that. And certainly in the data centers area, we are very focused on efficiency there. We just opened our newest data center in Quincy, Washington, which is essentially 100% hydro-power and has a 0 carbon footprint!".

What about incentives to Microsoft employees to reduce their carbon footprint?

"We have a very aggressive commuter programme. We pay for free bus passes throughout the Seattle area. We now have 30% of our employees that get to work other than a single occupancy vehicle, which is quite high, especially given our location. We also do have a rebate on Toyota Priuses that are available in our main campus area."