VIA Carbon Free Computing is an initiative launched by VIA Technologies, a manufacturer
of microprocessors and chipsetsin October 2006. Carbon Free Computing is a set of programs and products
designed to help individuals and organizations reduce their impact on the environment. The VIA Carbon Free
Computing is a part of the VIA Green Computing Initiative.
Under the initiative VIA offers a line of PC products certified as Carbon Free. According to the company, VIA
works with environmental experts to calculate the electricity used by an average Carbon Free Computing product
over its lifetime, assumed to be 3 years. Then from the amount of electricity used, VIA calculates how much
carbon dioxide emissions will be released into the environment mainly as a result of fossil fuel burning power
plants, and then works with regional offset organizations to "offset" that amount of carbon dioxide through
projects such as reforestation, investments in alternative energy, and Energy conservation.
VIA Technologies, the Taiwanese manufacturer of microprocessors and
chipsets, announced on Wednesday that it is billing its C7-D chip as the
world's first 'carbon-free' processor.
Launched in September as a 'carbon-neutral' chip, the step up in billing
reflects Via's hope to capture more of the market for more energy-efficient
technologies. This market is growing as organisations come under
increasing pressure to closely monitor the impact IT has on the
environment.
The C7-D processor can be used instead of AMD or Intel processors, using
a fraction of the power required by its more famous competitors.
Less power means less carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. To
prove the fact, VIA will shortly be publishing a paper by the specialist
environmental consultants, Best Foot Forward (BFF), that outlines the
savings in carbon use to be made by using the C7-D.
VIA has also commited to offset the carbon dioxide that is produced by
running computers using its chips, through a programme for energy
conservation and tree planting.