Last Tuesday, Westchester County Executive Andy Spano and the Global Warming Task Force called on businesses to help reduce the county's carbon footprint.  That same day, IBM announced the release of its new mainframe computer that will reduce power and cooling costs up to 85 percent in companies' energy-sapping data centers, reports Westchester Business Journal [1].

Since then, companies have heeded their call by systematically reducing energy use and promoting sustainability.  Whether by offering company subsidies for employees who purchase EnergyStar appliances, sponsoring recycling programs or implementing "green building" practices companies have begun to see more than just the environmental benefits of smart growth.  The green movement has created a brand new market for businesses who want to profit from climate action initiatives.

Task force members hail this as the launching pad for reducing Westchester's carbon footprint 20 percent by 2015.