For Subscribers

Energy Stars Finding energy-efficient hardware.

By Amanda C. Kooser

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

During your next upgrade cycle, consider investing in energy-efficient hardware to help battle rising energy costs and consumption in your business. Finding energy-efficient systems gets easier all the time. Sun Microsystems met with the EPA last April about setting a standard metric for measuring energy efficiency in servers. Sun has already introduced low power consumption servers, and the trend is spreading.

Dell recently announced an energy-saving initiative for its business desktops. The redesigned Dell OptiPlex 745, coupled with a flat-panel display, uses up to 70 percent less power than previous OptiPlex designs. The PowerEdge server line consumes up to 25 percent less energy than earlier models. Visit www.dell.com/energy to access an energy efficiency resource guide and to estimate your power savings using Dell products.

With Google pushing more energy-efficient computers and the 80 PLUS incentive plan for more efficient computer power supplies, look for more ways to save energy this year.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Buying / Investing in Business

Big Investors Are Betting on This 'Unlisted' Stock

You can join them as an early-stage investor as this company disrupts a $1.3T market.

Science & Technology

How AI Is Turning High School Students Into the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

As AI reshapes education, students are turning school problems into products and building the future economy.

Starting a Business

The Hardest Parts of Being a Solopreneur (and How I've Learned to Handle Them)

Solopreneurship is on the rise, offering us freedom and independence — but lasting success depends on tackling its unique challenges with strategy.

Leadership

My Business Hit $1 Million — Then a $46,000 Mistake Exposed the Biggest Bottleneck to Explosive Growth

How a costly mistake forced me to confront the real barrier to scaling and the changes that unlocked explosive growth beyond $1 million.