When it comes to energy savings around computing, data centers get most of the attention. But while giant tech companies including Sun Microsystems have launched initiatives to reduce the power consumption of these computing hubs, there’s also plenty of energy to be saved at the PC level, according to a recently released report by Intel for the state of California. The study found that the state could save up to $44 million in electricity costs if it were to replace its existing computer stock with newer, more energy-efficient models and incorporate other energy-saving IT measures over the next four years — at the same time taking more than 205,000 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere.
Older computers generate more heat, which requires their cooling systems to work harder than those of newer models with better power management. IDC estimates that for every dollar spent on computer hardware, an additional 50 cents is spent on power to run it and cool it down. Among newer computers, laptops are the most energy efficient — they can use up to 90 percent less energy than desktops. The state of California currently has some 225,000 PCs, only 10 percent of which are laptops.
The paper calls for more standardization of the many IT groups within the state. They should each follow a set policy based on industry best practices, such as those around power management, the report suggests. And if the state were to switch to a more networked, centralized IT strategy, IT staff could automate software patches and upgrade installations even when machines were powered down.
Intel recommends the state aims for 80 percent laptops and 20 percent desktops as it renews its computing assets. Besides direct energy savings from such a switch, the report noted other advantages of laptops, such as the increased ease of telecommuting. If 10 percent of the state’s employees do not commute daily, the report says, that would be the equivalent of taking 500 cars off the road each year.
Of course Intel conducted the study, so the authors made sure to plug for their own technology. For example, they wrote that when the state of Indiana adopted PCs with Intel vPro technology, the government saved up to $1.38 million over four years by using the system’s automated on-off powering.
Intel may have conducted the research for this report, but that doesn’t mean the chip maker has a lock on the state’s IT upgrade. California spends about $2 billion on IT alone each year, not including salaries. As we’ve reported before, that means there’s plenty of room for cleantech companies that can save money and reduce emissions while helping the state operate more efficiently.
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