Smart client - I'll define the technology later - manufacturer Cranberry says using a secure and efficient computer offsets carbon emissions that are equivalent to a two and a half hour business flight every year.

Which everyone knows is important, because the world is (literally) melting: “Business struggles to make energy savings and there is growing awareness of the environmental implications of IT," says Simon Ponsford, chief executive of the aforementioned Cranberry.

Thankfully, to quote the press release, a "solution is available today". And here's the previously promised definition - the new Cranberry Smart Client SC20 (pictured left), which just happens to be the industry’s most energy-efficient alternative to a desktop computer. And the facts are impressive:

No bigger than a paperback book, the SC20 consumes on average only 9 watts of power compared to a mid-range PC that has an average power consumption of 175 watts. As well as being 19 times more efficient, the SC20 comes with management software to further reduce power consumption by automatically turning off unused powered-on devices overnight.

To put the energy-efficiency of the SC20 into context, Cranberry’s research calculates that an average office PC in use 9 hours a day, 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year is responsible for 176kg of carbon dioxide each year. A Smart Client would produce just 9kg, a 95 per cent reduction. If applied to the 12.6 million office PCs in the UK today, this is a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 6.3 million people taking an annual return flight from London to Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon or Rome.

And here's the rub, the smart client technology clearly promises a bunch of environmentally powerful impacts - such as consuming less than 10 per cent of the power of a standard PC.

So why dress the technology up in a context that says: "Hello, IT manager - you won't understand the potential of our technology unless we tell you the world is about to die and, thankfully, suggest our SC20 is the answer." By now, it must be pretty basic knowledge that:

1. Every IT manager knows green computing is an issue and understands the basics
2. Every IT manager is suffering from green computing overkill - and could probably do with a break
3. Every IT manager needs to know about the business benefits of technologies, not cutting carbon emissions in isolation

As if to exemplify the above points, Cranberry chief executive Simon Ponsford also says on the press release: "Our new computer can instantly save power use and emissions while improving the bottom line. This is a fantastic win-win situation. The Smart Client will make businesses operate more effectively while providing a greener, more efficient office environment.”

There is hope, then - but saying that, I did get sent the press release six times this morning and I wonder how much carbon emissions five unrequired PR emails creates...??

Further reading

• Green computing is not crucial for CIOs
• The green IT rules from Gartner and Forrester
• JP Rangaswami says green computing drives BT
• SMEs lead the way on green computing
• Green computing is a pipe dream for IT managers

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