Ask finds green searching with Dell

 

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By Simon Aughton

Posted on 9 Aug 2007 at 10:59

Dell and Ask.com have announced an initiative to help the search engine reduce and offset its carbon emissions.

Dell's Data Center Solutions Division (DCS) put together a new computing architecture built around custom energy-efficient servers, which Ask.com claims use 30% less power while offering identical performance.

The search firm is also the first coporate customer to join Dell's "Plant a Tree for Me" programme, which aims to offset IT-related carbon emissions by funding the Conservation Fund and Carbonfund.org, non-profit organisations that plant trees in managed reforestation projects. Dell claims that Ask's participation in the program will result in the planting of "thousands" of trees.

"Ask.com continues to minimise, reduce and offset carbon emissions in efforts to protect the environment," said Chuck Geiger, executive vice president, technology and engineering at Ask.com. "By partnering with Dell on multiple green initiatives and ensuring that our new server facility in Eastern Washington uses hydro-power and less energy, we are pleased to be using less and giving back more."