Computer power consumption

13th January 2010

We hear almost every day the effects of global warming and the damage we are causing to our environment with carbon emissions. Everyone has their own opinion on the subject though and some are sceptical about the idea of global warming but that shouldn't stop us from taking precautionary measures. Reducing your computers power consumption has many benefits and even if you are sceptical of your carbon footprint you can still save money!

Computer manufacturers are trying to tackle the problem of the increasing power requirements of components. Processor manufacturers are producing smaller chips which use less power than previous generations also power supplys are becoming more efficiant.

Businesses with multiple computers should be aware of the total power consumption of their computers and should act quickly to implement a plan and cut the cost of their energy bills. All it takes is a few simple steps to configure each PC to ensure they are not using unnecessary power.

Cost of computer power consumption

I do believe that there is not enough awareness regarding the power consumption of computers so here are some facts based on the average computer.

1. The average desktop computer has a 400-watt power supply.
2. Typical 8 hour daily usage would be 3.2 kilowatt per day (400 x 8 = 3200 average).
3. In a working week at roughly 10p per Kilowatt that equals to £88.48 a year.
4. This is based on a single computer so an office with 10 computers the cost would be £884.80!

Tips to reduce computer power consumption

1. Use computer and monitor power management. This can be found in your control panel and should always be set.
2. Don’t use a screen saver. Instead use the power management feature in control panel to switch it off.
3. If buying a new computer look out for the ENERGY STAR label on the machine.
4. Building a new machine? Ensure the PSU (power supply) is adequate and energy efficient.
5. Turn down the brightness on your monitor. This dramatically reduces the power used by LCD screens.
6. Turn off all peripherals if not in use.
7. Using a laptop instead of a desktop when possible will help as it consumes much less power.
8. To analyse computer power consumption have your power supplys tested with a meter.