Technology company expected to save $150,000 in annual electricity costs
YORK REGION, ON – AMD (NYSE:AMD), an industry-leading technology company which designs computing and graphics solutions, expects to see a large reduction in their electricity bill this year at their Markham location thanks to the Data Centre Incentive Program (DCIP), a conservation initiative pioneered by their local electricity distribution company PowerStream with the support of the Ontario Power Authority (OPA).

PowerStream’s DCIP initiative, offers financial incentives to participating commercial customers with data centres. Companies that reduce electricity consumption by way of server consolidations or the installation of energy-efficient servers and other computer equipment are eligible to receive financial incentives of $300 per kilowatt saved.

The AMD Markham location was one of the first PowerStream customers to participate in the pilot rogram, and is now expected to achieve annual savings of at least $150,000. The successful pilot has enabled PowerStream and Toronto Hydro, another electric utility which now offers a similar program, to extend this new initiative to other companies within their respective service territories.

“We are pleased to have introduced such a successful conservation program,” said Patrick Guran, Chief Energy Conservation Officer at PowerStream. “The technology now exists that can transform data centres into more energy-efficient operational areas for businesses. We are pleased to be able to provide incentives that enable this to happen, which ultimately helps to protect the environment.”

AMD Markham had impressive results from the pilot program; the company downsized the number of server racks in one of its data centres by nearly 50% and reduced its electricity demand by 200 kilowatts while increasing the overall computing capacity. “AMD Markham believes that climate change is a significant environmental challenge and we are dedicated to reducing our impact on the environment,” says Richard Conohan, Program Manager,

Toronto Environmental Health and Safety, AMD. “Participating in the Data Centre Incentive Program has helped us do this while simultaneously reducing our energy costs.” Through DCIP, participants see immediate and on-going financial savings with reduced energy consumption, as well as the reduction of associated carbon emissions. PowerStream launched the pilot for the Data Centre Incentive Program in May 2008 with more than six businesses responding.

About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and technology partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.

About PowerStream
PowerStream is the second largest municipally-owned electricity distribution company in Ontario, providing service to more than 315,000 residential and business customers in Alliston, Aurora, Barrie, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Beeton, Markham, Penetanguishene, Richmond Hill, Thornton, Tottenham and Vaughan. It is an incorporated entity, jointly owned by the municipalities of Barrie, Markham and Vaughan.