I am active in the U.S. Green Building Council, promoting the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. While there is a lot of macro data regarding CO2 emissions, energy usage, etc. by commercial buildings (offices, institutions, etc.), we don't have micro level detail on the average electricity consumed by the telecom/IT equipment/PC's, Fax machines, etc. I'm trying to determine whether we need to suggest specific strategies to conserve energy from those specific areas (I've heard that they are the second highest consumers of electricity in a typical building, but have never seen the research). In addition, from a sustainability perspective we'd need to consider the energy consumed and CO2 emissions generated from the production of the equipment, the health impacts of any mercury, and the impacts of disposal/recycle. While it is fairly obvious that specifying energy star rated and other energy saving products, as well as utilization of e-waste recycling facilities, we don't have the quantitative data to make the business case. Has anyone conducted such research or seen such data?
Thanks
Daniele Loffreda
Data on IT/Telecom Equipment Electricity Consumption in Offices?
Sign in or Sign up to comment
Hi Daniele,
You might want to have a look at the following rankings/registries of 'green' electronics.
Greenpeace have a Guide to Greener Electronics (latest ranking published November 2008).
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/how-the-companies-line-up
and the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool have a registry of electronic products that match certain environmental criteria which is worth a look
http://www.epeat.net/
I work for Grow Me The Money, a government funded program, run by the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We assist small to medium businesses reduce their environmental impact. Many of our businesses are office based and at the very least have a small computer/electronics network so these guides can provide a good starting point for our businesses when purchasing new equipment.
I'd also be interested if anyone has any other information on this.
Olivia Tattam
Business Support Officer
Grow Me The Money, VECCI
Australia
Does anyone know which computer practise uses less energy: shutting down when not in use & restarting up to 3 times in a 10-hr stretch OR leaving it on with an energy eff. screen saver the whole 10 hours?
Thanks
jennifer sievert
wa state dept health
United States
I haven't got any yet, but I'm hoping to start a PhD in it shortly.
Be interesting to see if you dig up anything.
Jennifer - I would just buy an energy monitor and check. They're very cheap these days. I would think it's switching it off, but depending on your computer could be proved wrong.
Niamh Rabbitt
Sustainability Consultant
N/A
Ireland
I got some advise from our IT people here for flat HP flat screens and it is better to turn your monitor off if you are leaving for more than 5 minutes. Sorry don't have any info on CPU's.
Sarah Arblaster
Environment Coordinator
Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development
Australia
www.diird.vic.gov.au www.vic.gov.au
Hi Jennifer,
Not quite sure what you mean by energy efficient screen saver. With the newer LCD screens having a screen saver uses just as much energy as when it's operating, somewhere around 20-40w depending on the model and size.
My computer uses around 100w when operating plus 23w for the screen and a total of 7w if I hibernate the computer and turn the monitor off. Then during start up my computer peaks at approx 130w but this is only for 45 seconds.
From our studies in the Environmental Office at Monash Uni, Victoria, we have found it's is a lot more efficient to hibernate your machine.
Jeremy Settle
Office of Environmental Sustainability
Monash University
[email protected]
jeremy settle
Australia
Hello Jennifer (and everyone else) there is a lot of literature out there in this field that should be able to help you. Over the past 3 years I have been doing research into energy conservation in the built environment and have come across some good articles and papers you may find interesting.
There is one group in Australia that focuses on energy efficiency for electronic equipment as well as other office equipment, the National Framework for Energy Efficiency (NFEE). (I think there website is now www.ret.gov.au but perhaps google it first to make sure). I'm sure if you were to poke around their website you would find some great resources.
The report I have attached was done for the Australian Greenhouse Office and looks specifically at power management options for office equipment
Take care,
--Max
Max Deuble
Australia
Hi Jennifer,
Check out the info on www.energystar.gov on computer power management
For example, this document addresses the myth of "energy efficient screen savers":
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/manuf_res/power.pdf
Myth:
3. If I have a screen saver, Im using
Power Management and saving energy.
Fact:
3. Screen savers do not save money on utility
bills or use less energy. Your monitor is still
fully active when a screen saver is in use.
Figuring out the best settings for power management on your computer can be tricky. This page on the Energy Star website takes you to some instructions:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_power_management
For companies and organizations, there are also tips and software available for network-based power management.
- gwen
Gwen Farnsworth
E Source
United States
www.esource.com
Hi Daniele
I work in a government unit in Australia that promotes energy efficiency in government offices and am looking at finding similar information to identify which are the highest impact and most probable behaviours that all office workers could adapt to reduce energy consumption (and pave the way for other sustainable practices).
We have done some testing, and intend to do some more, but there is great variability between brands. It would be interesting to see what other data has been compiled.
Toni Hicks
NTG
Australia