Computers that manage their own energy

Ensemble power management software enforces power budgets across many servers. Display screens reduce power to parts of the screen that aren't being used. Multi-processor CPUs have slow and fast processors, and each computational workload is matched to a chip that can handle it efficiently. Schedulers place more workload on servers in a cooler part of the data center, reducing air conditioning demand. Hewlett-Packard Labs. (p. 56)

Cheap electricity from heat

Organic molecules can be used to generate electricity from waste heat. Devices could recapture heat from computers to extend battery life, for example. UC Berkeley (p. 75)

Biofuel from microbes

A new microbial approach to biofuels started with a malaria drug. Combining biological and chemical processes, the company has created microbes that can produce replacements for biodiesel, jet fuel and gasoline. Amyris Biotechnologies. (p. 75)

Technology Review September-October 2007 issue

"The TR35"