University has research work automatically sent to unused machines using open-source software called Condor Powering down or off PCs, monitors, and peripherals when they’re not in use can yield significant savings, according to Purdue University: around $60 per machine per year. But the school reports that it’s taking an innovative approach to getting even more bang for its computing watt: Putting unused machines to work instead of letting them simply rest. According to Purdue, “when computers are on, even if the owner isn’t using them for just a few minutes, other work is sent to them. This makes more efficient use of the university’s existing computer resources and reduces the total number of computers connected to the electrical grid.”Purude accomplishes this using open-source software from the University of Wisconsin called Condor. “At Purdue, if you aren’t using your computer, it should either be running research jobs or be turned off,” says Gerry McCartney, vice president for IT and CIO at Purdue. “We have an estimated 35,000 computers on campus, and we can have a real effect on both costs and our environmental impact if users would spend a few moments thinking about how they use those machines.” Currently, 20,000 computers at the university connect to Condor. The school says that in coming weeks, it will “make software available to all of its employees using Windows PCs that will allow them to connect their computer to the Condor system.” Technology Industry