Tech Coalition Backs Electricity Conservation

A coalition led by Google and Intel and including Dell, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Hitachi, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Sun and Yahoo, is backing a plan to make computers and servers more energy efficient. The plan aims to cut the amount of electricity computers use by one-half by making them more energy efficient. Currently, most computers lose about one-half of the power it uses and servers lose about one-third.

It is expected that making them more efficient will raise prices slightly, but save consumers more on their electricity bill.

Wal-Mart and SEIU Discuss Universal Health Care

From the 2/8/07 New York Times: Lee Scott, the CEO of Wal-Mart, and Andrew Stern, the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) got together yesterday to discuss our nation's healthcare problem. They announced their intention to seek support of universal healthcare coverage (by around 2012); shared responsibility for healthcare coverage among individuals, businesses, and government; and expanded coverage. Execs from AT&T and Intel as well as leaders of several nonprofits were also present at the meeting.