Intel announced investments totaling about $10 million in five companies developing technology that contributes to a cleaner environment.

Intel made a first-time investment in CPower, a New York company offering energy management services and technology to businesses. The remaining four companies received money from Intel in the past. They include Powervation, an Irish company which provides digital power controllers for server, desktop computing and communication platforms.

Also, Convey Computer, based in Richardson, Texas, offers technology to reduce energy consumption and boost performance of high-performance computing systems. Grid Net, headquartered in San Francisco, provides policy-based network management software to the utility industry, and iControl, based in Palo Alto, Calif., offers security and broadband providers with an IP-based platform for remote home monitoring and energy management.

Intel Capital, the chip maker's investment arm, announced the latest investments Wednesday at Intel's Technology Summit in San Francisco. Intel is particularly interested in organizations that foster energy efficiency, alternative power generation and other areas that better the environment. The chip maker looks for organizations that support its Open Energy Initiative, which promotes standards-based, interoperable technology.

Founded in 1991, Intel Capital has invested more than $9 billion in more than 1,000 companies in 46 countries. In June, the organization said it would inject $43 million into UQ Communications, a Japanese company working on WiMax mobile services in Tokyo, Yokohama and Kawasaki, and Toyota International Airport.

InformationWeek has published an in-depth report on leading-edge government IT -- and how the technology involved may end up inside your business. Download the report here (registration required).