PC Magazine published some very interesting facts and tips about "Green" Computing. Even assuming that these are mostly from environmental activists and likely to be skewed towards the hysterical, there's a lot to think about here both personally and politcally. Below are just a few of the thoughts in the article. Go to http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2276270,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03129TX1K0000625 for the complete list of 48 items:

• The "phantom load"—electricity consumed by "switched-off" appliances like TVs, radios, the microwaves—can add $200 a year to your bill. (Cornell University, via TheDailyGreen.com)
• Switched-off devices account for 40 percent of the energy consumed by electronics in an average home. (TreeHugger.com)
• Creation of a desktop PC usually requires ten times the PC's weight in fossil fuels and chemicals, most of them toxic. (BBC News )
• Flaws in Windows XP's sleep mode and Microsoft's choice of "High Performance" as the default performance option may have added $5 billion to power bills annually worldwide. (Treehugger.com)
• If you buy a new system, Apple and Dell will recycle your old computer, regardless of manufacturer. (Dell Recycling)
• The energy saved by recycling one plastic bottle will power a computer for 25 minutes. (Think Green)

And finally, one I am trying to convince my boss of:

• If all commuters worked from home just one day a week, we could save 5.85 billion gallons of oil each year. (Environmental Defense Fund )