President Bush this week gave a climate change speech that set goals for curbing emissions. But now that he's at the twilight of his presidency, is it too little too late?

Bush outlines goals to fight climate change - CNN

Bush said his administration's support of increased fuel-economy standards and alternative fuel research is "a solid foundation for further progress."

The next step, he said, would be to halt the growth of power industry emissions within 10 to 15 years -- steps he said depend on encouraging new technologies.

"The strategy I have laid out today shows faith in the ingenuity and enterprise of the American people -- and that's a resource that will never run out," he said.

First, the bottom line: Forrester believes that overall services related to helping companies rationalize the energy efficiency and sustainability profile of their technology will peak at $4.8 billion in 2013, with roughly half of that spending coming from European businesses. (The services revenue for this year is expected to be around $500 million.) Much like the Y2K wave, green tech services will begin to taper off after this point as the practices become more a standard part of running an IT infrastructure, Forrester concludes.

Embrace energy efficiency. Once you know your needs, try to find a PC or laptop that meets those requirements as well as Energy Star 4.0. That way, you'll know it's got an 80-percent efficient power supply and knows how to make the most of low-power modes. (There's also an Energy Star specification for monitors, which is more dated but still useful.)

Energy efficiency can shave a chunk of money from your annual utility bills, plus reduce your carbon footprint. Energy Star-compliant systems are easy to find, be it through the Energy Star Web site or your preferred computer vendor.

Datamonitor reported an increase in CIO interest and vendor initiatives related to green technology. With the presence of advanced technologies and tighter regulatory measures , business interest in green technology is growing. Seventy-five percent of respondent firms consideredeco ( News - Alert)-friendly computing an important part of their IT strategies. For 15 percent of respondents, green technology remained a top priority, and 20 percent have already incorporated green tech solutions as part of their business strategies.

The Department of Physics, in Jefferson Hall and Lyman Hall, earned honorable mention by attaining an impressive 22.39 percent reduction in energy use. The department placed energy-efficient hand dryers in four bathrooms — with hopes of installing more next year, according to building manager Stuart McNeil — and outfitted some labs and hallways with LED spotlights, which can last up to 50,000 hours, equivalent to 24 years of operation at eight hours per day, five days a week. McNeil says the LED lightbulbs will also soon be installed in more labs and classrooms.