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Dec 23, 2008
Computer and Infrastructure Energy Usage
Different types of technology, such as desktop/laptop/thin-client, CRT/LCD, tower/blade servers, and virtualization all affect total energy use. Direct energy consumption is multiplied by power draining overhead from power supplies and HVAC. Policies concerning hibernation and powering down computers play heavily into energy use. Software applications for servers and client computers can be utilized to monitor and control energy use.
How much energy does your computing
infrastructure consume?
Use the CoSN's Computer Energy Usage
Calculator and find out.
Did you know: Some interesting facts about computer energy use.
You may qualify for Energy Efficiency Certificates
Energy Saving Certificate (ESC) is an instrument issued by an authorized body guaranteeing that a specified amount of energy savings has been achieved. Each certificate is a unique and traceable commodity carrying a property right over a certain amount of additional energy savings and guaranteeing that the benefit of these savings has not been accounted for elsewhere. The World Resources Institute tracks states that have implemented these certificates.
More Information in
Resources.
Tips for Getting Started
- Check with your power utility for energy saving rebate programs and carbon or energy certificate programs
Purchasing Energy Efficient Computer Equipment - Tips
- Buy energy efficient computer products and use their energy saving power management features. An ENERGY STAR® qualified computer uses 75 percent less electricity.
- Consider using flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors versus conventional CRT monitors. LCD monitors provides up to 70% power savings and provides up to twice the lifespan of CRT monitors. LCD monitors also run cooler, which helps save on air conditioning costs.
- Select the right-sized monitor to meet your needs. The bigger the monitor, the more energy it uses.
- Choose multifunction network-attached print/copy/scan devices. In addition to saving space and materials, these All-in-Ones save energy compared to several products working in parallel and will decrease their idle time.
- Replacing old servers? Consider server consolidation and virtualization for better manageability and lower system, power supply and HVAC energy use.
- Client computer virtualization or application server products using thin clients or desktop processing unit sharing can work for computer labs and other "captive" environments, reducing processor and hard drive energy use.
- Don't just add storage. Replace old small-capacity drives with new large-capacity drives.
Computer and Datacenter Operations - Tips
- Enable the energy saving settings on PCs and peripherals – a feature that is enabled on products running Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. A computer in idle mode uses 20 to 50 times the power of a computer in standby mode.
- To increase savings, reduce the time delay before your equipment reverts to a power saving mode.
- Disable your screen savers to reduce energy use. Studies show that a monitor in screen saving mode uses significantly more energy than one in standby mode.
- Adjust your computer’s data backup schedule to run during the workday so you don’t have to leave your computer on at night. Alternatively, there are ways to wake computers up at night for backup.
- ENERGY STAR® recommends that you power down all electronics – computer, monitor, printer and other peripherals – when not in use. This includes unplugging power strips at the end of the day, because they consume energy even when the equipment is shut off. Be sure to power down all equipment connected to the power strip first.
- Set printers to sleep mode. The printer will quickly return to “activity” status when new print jobs are submitted.
- Datacenter cooling uses anywhere from 35% to 60% of your datacenter (or server room) energy demands. Putting cooling and thermostats closer to your server, storage device and networking heat source and moving cables and other blockage to airflow will produce immediate results. Larger datacenters should incorporate rack mount servers with hot and cold aisles.
- Use of outside air on cool days; Cool from above the racks, rather from below raised floor.
- Move old date to tape (tape provides 20-200 times as many TB/KW).
Computer and Infrastructure Energy Use Resources
Energy use resources include articles, white papers and vendor information, organized by general, end-user and datacenter.
General Resources, which include broader assessments, conferences, websites, solutions, webcasts and presentations.
