The third annual Power IT Down Day takes place Friday, August 27, and software company JouleX has compiled a list of the top things IT managers can do to cut energy costs from their PC fleets.

The industry is by and large playing a defensive tactic of improving its energy efficiency, while failing to take advantage of the coming huge market opportunities like the smart grid, which use IT for green.

The 33,000-square-foot facility, which will open its doors next month, has a PUE of 1.08, and boasts the U.K.'s Environment Agency as one of its premiere clients.

The financial services firm's Northpointe data center has met the government's new standard for energy efficiency in computing facilities.

A new tool for cutting energy wasted by idling computers brings web-based control of a PC fleet and allows companies to report savings in energy, costs and CO2-equivalent emissions.