Think of states that are environmental frontrunners, and Kansas and Minnesota may not leap immediately to mind. But it’s those two that are taking the lead in reducing energy use from government computer systems. Teaming up with the industry-backed Climate Savers Computing Initiative, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) — whose states each buy more than 4,000 computers annually — have pledged to purchase energy-efficient hardware and servers and install controls that put state computers to sleep around 5:30 each evening. Pop-up reminder to stop working and go to happy hour not included.
