Computer Use Drives Electricity Demand
July 19, 2000
Computers and other electronic office equipment already have a large impact on total electricity consumption, and that impact is increasing rapidly. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 1999 Annual Energy Outlook says that over the next two decades electricity use for office equipment will grow twice as fast as electricity as a whole - 3.2 per cent versus 1.4 per cent annually.
Analysis conducted by DOE in 1995 showed computers and other office equipment accounted for 13 per cent of the total electricity use in commercial buildings. That's about the same amount of electricity required for air conditioning those buildings, and office equipment use is second only to lighting, which accounts for almost half the electricity consumption in commercial buildings.
Computers, printers, scanners and other electronic equipment used in the home are also contributing to the impact on total electricity consumption. Not only has computer ownership increased significantly but the use of Internet and e-mail has increased the hours computers are in operation. Current estimates suggest that home computers account for 13 per cent or more of all electricity consumed in the U.S. - an increase of over 300 per cent since 1995.
Unfortunately, a lot of this energy is wasted. It's estimated a typical computer is in active use only 10 per cent of the time. Simple energy management techniques, such as turning off the computer or at least the monitor when not in use, save energy and reduce costs.
In an office building, turning off all computers and monitors in the evenings and weekends can save $15 a year for each computer and monitor system. Multiply that by a typical building with 1,000 employees and savings add up to $15,000 a year. If a computer must be left on after-hours, turning off the monitor will not affect the program that is running, but will save 75 per cent of the total energy required to run the computer. These savings can be compounded. Shutting down computers when not needed reduces heat generation, which in turn cuts back the need for air conditioning.
Check out our Power Smart Tips page to find out more ways to save energy in the workplace and at home.
