Electrical and Mechanical Upgrades: Computers

What can be done to save energy besides lighting?  Lots of stuff!  If it heats, cools, modulates or can be turned on or off, then SmartWatt Energy can help make it more energy efficient!  This post is part of a series detailing systems and areas where potential energy savings can be found in your commercial or industrial facility.  If you’re interested in a comprehensive energy efficiency solution for your facility, contact us to learn more about a complimentary energy analysis.

Computers

How do computers waste energy?  Networks of computers that are not being turned off or sent to sleep mode when not being used can be a huge energy drain.  Personal computers and their monitors use between 5-13% of all energy consumed in an office environment, but 66% of this electricity is wasted!

Why can’t I just turn them off when they are not being used?  In most commercial or industrial facilities there are extensive networks of computers and other electronics running at all times and to manually turn each one off or to low power mode is impractical.  A simple solution to ensure that all computers are being turned off is to install a control on the equipment that turns it off when it is not being used.