Avnet, Inc. Named an Honoree in Computerworld's Inaugural "Best Practices in Green IT" Awards Program

Business Wire, Sept 24, 2008

Avnet Recognized for Its Commitment to Improving Energy Efficiency in Its Data Center

PHOENIX -- Global technology distributor Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) today announced that IDG's Computerworld selected the company as an Honoree in the inaugural "Best Practices in Green IT" Awards Program. Computerworld's "Best Practices in Green IT" Awards Program identifies and acknowledges excellence among early adopters and industry leaders in the green IT movement. Avnet received its award in the "Green IT in the Data Center" category based on its three-year project to create a more energy-efficient data center.

"It is an incredible honor to be recognized by Computerworld for our efforts to improve the energy efficiency of our data center," said Brad Kenney, vice president of enterprise infrastructure at Avnet, Inc. "Green IT presents an inspirational opportunity that enables companies like Avnet to reduce their environmental impact, while at the same time achieving business advantages through resource and cost benefits. For example, our data center project has conserved Avnet's critical data center floor space and power, and avoided millions of dollars of power build out and raised floor expansion."

Avnet approached its data center power consumption efforts from a holistic standpoint, focusing on technology and the physical environment. As part of this, Avnet virtualized systems, implemented vertical scaling and incorporated more energy-efficient lighting, air conditioners, roofing materials, leakage cubes and tiles into its facility. Additionally, Avnet developed a governance process, mandating that all data center infrastructure upgrades demonstrate how they improve energy efficiency.

"While the lower costs and environmental benefits associated with greener IT have long been proven, power consumption by the world's data centers continues to grow," said Ron Milton, executive vice president of Computerworld. "The organizations and professionals judged to be Honorees in Computerworld's inaugural 'Best Practices in Green IT' Awards Program are the early adopters and industry leaders responsible for reducing their IT organizations' carbon footprint and are setting industry standards on curbing power consumption, environmental danger and ongoing costs."

About Computerworld

Computerworld is the leading source of technology news and information for IT influencers worldwide. Computerworld's award-winning Web site (www.computerworld.com), weekly publication, focused conference series and custom research form the hub of the world's largest (40 edition) global IT media network. In the past five years alone, Computerworld has won more than 100 awards, including Folio Magazine's 2006 Gold EDDIE Award for the best technology/computing magazine, the 2004 and 2006 Magazine of the Year Award, and 2006 Best Overall Web Publication from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). In addition, in 2007 Computerworld's then editor in chief, Don Tennant, received the prestigious Timothy White Award from American Business Media. Computerworld leads the industry with an online audience of over 2 million unique, monthly visitors and a print audience of 1,222,000 readers each week (IntelliQuest CIMS Spring 2007).

About Avnet

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008, Avnet generated revenue of $17.95 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.