Computers save work. Now they want to save energy.

Intel and Google are leading an effort to make computers a lot more energy efficient. They're calling it the Climate Savers Computer Initiative. Through a combination of technology, smarter power and materials use and guidelines about usage, the Initiative is aiming to cut CO2 emissions from computer operation by 54 million tons per year -- the equivalent to taking 11 million cars off the road, or shutting down between 10 and twenty coal-fired power plants.

There's a set of standards for manufacturers and guidelines for computer owners and users. Companies who've already signed up include IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Advanced Micro devices, Sun Microsystems and Microsoft.