I heard recently about a big Spanish bank that published a request for proposal (RFP) to buy computer monitors. In evaluating the various RFPs, the bank calculated the effective cost of the monitor as the purchase cost plus the incremental energy cost for the less efficient models over five years. That got me thinking about the logic (or lack thereof) in this approach. I’ve worked closely with a number of banks over the past few years including a very large bank. So, with some “real” numbers in mind, I ran some comparisons to determine if there might be a more effective approach.

Taking advantage of IRS rules in the last days of 2011 will cut the already quick payback period for PC power management software by up to 35%!

A recent story from the cleantech space caught my attention – “CA School District Spends $23M on Solar Panels, Won't Break Even for 16 Years”.

In a move that is proving to be controversial with some, some California school districts are looking to a high-tech way to save money, even if the payback won't be achieved until well over a decade later.