A coalition of technology companies and environmental groups, the Climate Savers, led by Google Inc. (GOOG) and Intel Corp. (INTC), launched an initiative this week to conserve electricity and curb global warming emissions by making the world’s computers and servers more energy-efficient. The plan aims to cut the amount of electricity computers consume in half by 2010.

Adobe Systems Inc.

The San Jose firm reported a 24 percent surge in second-quarter profit Thursday, setting a record in revenue and exceeding Wall Street expectations as the software company embarked on its biggest-ever product launch. Excluding costs for expenses, profit was $223.2 million, or 37 cents per share, compared with $189.4 million, or 31 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.

businessBusiness & Real Estate