Lorie Wigle – General Manager, Eco-Technology Program Office, Intel Corporation/ President, Climate Savers Computing Initiative

Meet one of PINK’s Top 10 Women in Sustainability, 2011!

By Rachel Pomerance

“We’re focused on the environment, and we believe there’s a double-digit, billion-dollar market opportunity for Intel in electricity delivery and energy efficiency,” says Wigle.

As head of Eco-Technology for Intel, Wigle is responsible for Intel’s market position in energy-efficient performance and design for the environment. She also leads external programs related to client, server and data center efforts including Intel’s participation in Green Grid and the Climate Savers Computing Initiative.

“As companies embrace sustainability,” Wigle adds, “they evolve from ‘do no harm’ to ‘doing well by doing good’ to eventually growing revenue by delivering products and services that improve sustainability.”

Why should Wigle be proud?

• Climate Savers Computing Initiative: The nonprofit was founded in 2007 to reduce computer-related energy consumption and emissions. “It started with Intel and Google agreeing on two problem areas in computing,” Wigle adds. Together, they worked steadily on specific goals that would provide the right foundation for pushing the maximum environmental impact without a hefty cost.

• Intel’s position as a role model: “More of the world’s population aspires to live and consume like Americans,” and Intel can show how to reduce its carbon footprint even as it prospers.  “We call it ‘shrink to grow,’” Wigle says. “The company made a great stride in this direction when we became the largest purchaser of green power, according to the EPA in 2008, and have held that position every year since.”

• Open Energy Initiative: Wigle’s team launched this initiative in 2009 to promote standards and computing solutions in the delivery and management of electricity to reduce emissions.

 What’s next?

• Bonuses Tied to Environmental Factors: In the last three years, contributions to Intel’s sustainability efforts are considered in bonuses. “This communicates the company’s environmental beliefs and is motivational for employees,” Wigle says.

• Managed Growth Through Smart Innovation: For example, Intel estimates there will be two billion connected personal computers by 2015. However, Wigle adds, “because of innovation in form factors and energy efficiency, we now estimate that those two billion PCs will use half the energy and do 17 times the work of the first billion PCs.”

Rachel Pomerance, a writer and public relations professional, specializes in sustainable transportation at Pomerance & Associates. The all-female firm, which is owned by her mother, Barbara Pomerance, manages the communications for the Washington Auto Show®.