Electronics / IT
Enable Power Management Features on Computers and Office Equipment
What Is It?
Power management features enable machines to turn off or enter “sleep” mode after a predetermined period of inactivity, which uses much less energy than during full operation. Most electronic equipment manufactured in the last 10 years comes standard with these features. It is worth noting, however, that power management needs to be enabled in advance for it to work.
Benefits
Enabling power management will cut down on energy consumption and lengthen the useful life of equipment. Computers, monitors, and other electronics will continue to run unless turned off or set to turn off after a predetermined amount of time. Depending on how often machines are left on and not fully used, power management has the potential to return significant energy and cost savings.
Financing Options, Incentives, and Rebates
- Columbia Gas: Commercial Energy Efficiency Program
- NSTAR: Business Solutions Program
NEWS
- “Wal-Mart wants PCs to sleep earlier,” Reuters, Sept 12, 2012
- “Intel’s Smart Connect updates your laptap (and your tweets) while its sleeping” Venturebeat.com, SeptEMBER 13, 2012
- “The top Green-IT organizations: Hard-wired to be green,” Computerworld.com, October 24, 2011
RESOURCES
- ENERGY STAR: Top 12 Ways to Decrease the Energy Consumption of your Data Center
- ENERGY STAR: Put Your Computers to Sleep
- ENERGY STAR: 6 Ways to Reduce IT Energy Costs
- ENERGY STAR: Top Ten Power Management Myths and Realities
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: User Guide to Power Management for PCs and Monitors
A Sample of Providers
- Free consultation – J. Michael Walker, Beacon Consultants Network (a US EPA ENERGY STAR Technical Support Contractor); mwalker@beaconconsultants.com
