In less than two weeks, as part of the National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference in Denver, the U.S. EPA, U.S. DOE, and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) will host the annual Green Power Leadership Awards to recognize those who advance the market for renewable electricity sources. Can't wait for those envelopes to be opened? Take a look at three other environmental winners from the computer industry.First, there's National Semiconductor Corp. of Maine, which cut carbon emissions by 56% as part of that state's Governor's Carbon Challenge and STEP-UP programs. That exceeds the company's 2010 goals. At least seven projects have contributed to National Semiconductor's carbon emissions reduction and associated annual dollar savings. These projects include increasing efficiencies in the heating of deionized water necessary for manufacturing specifications, reducing set point temperatures for water heating, heat exhaust redirection, and operating a heat recycling system from incoming municipal water.

As remarkable, though, is that this is the same National Semiconductor that was fined in 2001 and agreed to undertake a $186,000 environmental project and pay a $42,000 penalty to settle charges of hazardous waste violations at its facility in South Portland, Maine.

Second, Hosting.com has become the first "Green Energy Champion" with Louisville Gas and Electric (LG&E)'s Green Energy program in Louisville, Ky. Under the agreement with LG&E, Hosting.Com, a Web hosting and co-location services company, is purchasing 2.4 million kWh of Kentucky-based low-impact hydropower.

Third, there's Advanced Micro Devices, which back in May, received the 2008 Climate Protection Award from the U.S. EPA for reducing greenhouse gas emissions; helping companies minimize their energy-consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through energy-efficient products, in this case Opteron processors; and a commitment to climate protection, as evidenced by corporate reporting transparency.

Those are just three of what are surely hundreds of encouraging stories of companies that have used or manufactured computers in a more environmentally friendly manner. Care to share yours?