Power Smart Computer Power Management Options

When we think about computer costs, we tend to focus on the purchase of computer equipment. But costs for operating computers add up, too – much of it for wasted electricity resulting from monitors and CPUs left running unnecessarily.

It's estimated that, on average, about 40 per cent of employees in B.C. leave their computers on after working hours and fail to use power-saving features during the day. As a result, about 500 gigawatt-hours of electricity are wasted each year in B.C., an amount that translates into about $29 million in annual electricity costs.

Energy efficient solutions

There are a variety of ways to cut your computers' energy consumption, including:

• Operating system efficiencies;
• Programming scripts your IT professional can write;
• Software options – some free, some at a cost;
• Switching from desktops to laptops is the most energy efficient option you may choose
• Manual end-of-day shutdown.

How much can you save?

Typically, you can expect to save up to 200 kilowatt hours (kWh) per computer per year with a CRT monitor-only control, and an additional 120 kWh per computer per year with the addition of a CPU control. On 1,000 CRT based computers power management applications would save you from $12,000 to $19,200 each year (based on an average rate of $0.06 per kWh), depending on the components controlled and on the computers' normal hours of use.

Auto shutoff options

Microsoft Windows and Mac operating systems include easy-to-use power management features that allow users to set the duration of time after which inactive monitors and computers are shut off. There are two drawbacks to this option, however.

One drawback is that the setting of each computer needs to be physically changed. The other drawback is that the ease of access allows users to disable the power management options – some organizations opt for centralized computer power management controls that cannot be overridden.

To ensure network control of Windows' power management options, your IT professional can write a script that will control the options at the network level.

Software options

Power management software applications may include value-added functions such as monitoring on/off times, generating reports, allowing computers to be grouped in different arrays and providing security features.

The chart below provides examples of software solutions for computer power management. It is not a comprehensive list, but is a starting point. Estimated savings, costs and features vary widely, so choose carefully to select the option that is compatible with your equipment and meets your needs. Always check with an IT professional before installing any software on your network.

¹Based on a blended electrical rate of $0.06 cents per kilowatt hour and assumes that 40% of users leave their computers workstations on after work hours.
Disclaimer: BC Hydro does not endorse and accepts no liability for any of the above products/procedures.

Hardware solutions

In addition to software solutions, consider investing in new energy-efficient computer hardware. Laptops use only about 25W of power compared with an LCD based computer at about 90W, and offer the most energy efficient computer system currently in use. If your organization switched to laptops from 1,000 CRT based workstations you would save between $20,000 and $30,000 each year in energy costs.

Contact us

Find out how Power Smart can energize your bottom line. Call us today at 604 522-4713 in the Lower Mainland or 1 866 522-4713 elsewhere in B.C.

Last Modified: January 3, 2008