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Intel states that its future processors are going to be 100 percent lead-free, beginning with its family of 45nm high-k metal gate (Hi-k) processors, which include Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Xeon models. The company is due to begin such 45nm Hi-k production in the 'second half of this year', it says.

'Intel is taking an aggressive stance toward environmental sustainability, from the elimination of lead and a focus on greater energy efficiency of our products to fewer air emissions and more water and materials recycling,' said Intel VP Nasser Grayeli, a director of assembly test technology development.

According to the chip giant, it

For its part, IBM has already announced its 'Project Big Green', where it promises to spend $1 billion a year to help make businesses more energy efficient. The plan includes new products and services for IBM, and its customers, to reduce the energy consumed by data centres.

Big Blue cites the analyst firm IDC, which estimates that roughly 50 cents is spent on energy for every $1 of computer hardware. And it believes substantial savings are to be had - 40 percent for an average 25,000 square foot data centre. This equates, it states, to more than 7,400 tons of carbon emissions saved per year.

'The data centre energy crisis is inhibiting our clients' business growth as they seek to access computing power,' says Mike Daniels, senior VP, IBM Global Technology Services. 'Many data centres have now reached full capacity, limiting a firm's ability to grow and make necessary capital investments. We are providing clients the IBM action plan to make their data centres fully energy efficient.'