Green Options » Cisco

Local Power! As Power Management Systems Emerge, the Future Looks Micro

Jeffrey Berlin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:28:06 +0000

So we have all heard by now that Google is getting into the power management game, Cisco and IBM are coming to play too, but are the mega-stars of the VC and IT worlds going to be creating the new terms of energy management, or will local management solutions be more effective as the method for some markets? The easy answer is that it depends. Local grids can be made up of energy generation near recipient towns, cities or villages, just as energy can travel from another portion of a state or country, but increasingly there will be local power generation which will need to be brought intelligently to local customers on a block by block or building by building scale. ‘Micro-grids’ as they have come to be known, will likely serve most readily and immediately rural populations, who will bypass the need for state-electrification and develop power-management systems on their own because it is easier to implement than waiting for infrastructure build-out.

Many of the major players in the space have been basing their assumptions for growth not upon this notion, but upon a Western model of electrification. While the hardware developed by major California smart grid firms such as Trilliant and Silver Springs Networks will rightfully be applied toward the lucrative state or utility scale projects, these projects will only deal with the needs existing within the existing grid framework. The growth of the space will need innovation in power-management for those who either do not currently have access to an electrical grid or those who can benefit from opting-out of one altogether.

Read more of this story »

San Francisco Unveils First EcoMap

Keith Rockmael — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:23:17 +0000

In the continued effort for San Francisco to stay ahead of the green curve as well as the technology curve, the San Francisco EcoMap comes to a computer near you. Although still in “preview” stage the real deal launches in a couple days.

The EcoMap gives San Franciscans the ability to see the collective results of their individual footprint but also offers up nifty comparison of other zip codes so we can all spy on how Pac Heights compares to Potrero Hill. How many of the Marina crowd pours CO2 into the air from transportation, energy and waste versus their Russian Hill neighbors? With this map it’s easy to check out the various carbon footprints of the various ‘hoods.

Read more of this story »

NASA and Cisco Collaborating on Climate Change Platform

Jake Richardson — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:48:44 +0000

NASA and Cisco, Inc. have joined together to implement and manage an online global environmental monitoring platform, which is named Planetary Skin.

The platform will be used for data collection and analysis utilizing sensors in space, the air, the oceans, and on land.

Read more of this story »

Webconferencing: A Green Recession Tactic

Jennifer Kaplan — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:21:47 +0000

Last week the New York Times reported that “Travel Goes the Way of the Dodo at Cisco,” noting that Cisco CEO John Chambers told analysts that the company had saved a lot of money during difficult times by cutting back on travel and increasing web conferencing. Sadly, Chambers didn’t mention that web conferencing is an excellent greening strategy for small businesses. Its a silver lining that the bad economy has led companies to consider alternatives to travel such as web conferencing and teleconferencing.

In fact, if every small business owner in the United States conducted one teleconference in lieu of a domestic business trip, it would save $25.4 billion dollars in travel expenses and 10.5 million tons of C02 in just one year.

If you are interested in web conferencing there are lots of resources on the Internet. You can start with C-Net software reviews. Kolabora is an essential web conferencing resource for those stepping into the field for the first time. ConferZone is good for guidance on web conferencing including terminology, questions to ask when deciding on a web conferencing solution site and the latest web conferencing research. Thinkofit offers a guide to web conferencing services and solutions including topics such as real-time conferencing, collaborative work environments, and book recommendations. Webseminarian provides a comprehensive guide to web conferencing news, reviews, and opinions.

Read more of this story »

Cisco EnergyWise Takes Guesswork Out of Energy Management

Timothy B. Hurst — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:30:20 +0000

In a week that also saw Sentilla roll out energy management software for data centers, Cisco yesterday introduced their EnergyWise technology for their Catalyst® family of switches. The new software suite measures, reports and reduces the energy consumption of Internet Protocol devices such as phones, laptops and access points. Cisco also announced industry partnerships that will ultimately enable the management of power consumption for entire building systems such as lights, elevators, and air conditioning and heating.

Read more of this story »

Cisco and the CBC Partner to Create an Environmental Website: One Million Acts of Green

Amiel Blajchman — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:47:10 +0000

One Million Acts of Green is a new website from the Canada Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), to promote and encourage Canadians to take steps to make the environment greener.

While not a radical approach, One Million Acts of Green is encouraging website viewers (and Canadians in general) to take the small steps, the small actions, that cumulatively add up to something significant.

Read more of this story »

Green Conference Organizer Walks The Talk On Sustainability

Nayelli Gonzalez — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:35 +0000

It seems as if everyone is “going green” these days. Of course, that’s a good thing–especially when it is done correctly. Green Power Conferences, a group who offers professionally organized events around the world focusing on the sustainability sector, is part of a growing trend in green event planning. Not only does the company coordinate events that promote sustainable business practices, but it does it in an environmentally responsible way.

Green Power Conferences’ green policy includes a commitment to contribute 5% of its annual income to charitable causes, a vow to only work with eco-friendly industries, and a pledge to use environmentally sustainable strategies to operate its offices and conferences.

Read more of this story »