Ten dollars more a pop to save about $17 a year in electricity costs for the usual business. Add in about $1 billion annually in reduced U.S. energy bills and fewer global warming emissions from power plants to boot. Reporter Jim Carlton's take on the Intel/Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) collaboration on computer chips has Intel officials pointing also to more innovative PC designs as a result of smaller power supplies. "The latest initiative by the computer industry to improve its environmental image" in the face of continuing concerns over toxics and disposal of old computers, Carlton writes. He reports that the new design will reduce computers' draw on power from the outlet, cutting the power that now is converted to unnecessary and counterproductive hear ... and then needs cooling fans. Carlton reports that NRDC scientists say the annual savings would be enough to meet Chicago's needs, "reducing power plant emissions by the equivalent of 1.3 million cars." A move now is afoot to have EPA incorporate the design into its "Energy Star" program.