Test Eco computing
- 1. Go Green, Save Green The Benefits of Eco-Friendly Computing
- 2. Green Computing Table of Contents Table of Contents Green Computing Saves Green Four Costly Computer Myths Did You Know… Save the Planet, Save Your Equipment, Save Money How to Create a Green Machine Do You Believe in Vampires? A Vampire’s Worst Nightmare: Surge Protection with Master Control Recycling E-Waste Key Takeaways Now What? next
- 3. Green Computing Green Computing Saves Green Green Computing Saves Green The good news is, by As computers play an ever-larger role in our lives, energy demands, costs, and waste embracing simple, are escalating dramatically. Consider the following from the Climate Savers Computing everyday green Initiative: computing practices, you can improve • In a typical desktop computer, nearly half the power coming out of the wall is wasted energy management, and never reaches the processor, memory, disks, or other components. increase energy efficiency, reduce • The added heat from inefficient computers can increase the demand on air e-waste, and save conditioners and cooling systems, making your computing equipment even more money in the process! expensive to run. • Even though most of today’s desktop computers are capable of automatically transitioning to a sleep or hibernate state when inactive, about 90 percent of systems have this function disabled. • Some 25 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics—computers, DVD players, stereos, TVs—is consumed while the products are turned off. back | next
- 4. Green Computing Four Costly Computer Myths Four Costly Computer Myths 1 You should never turn off your computer. Your computer is designed to handle 40,000 on/off cycles. If you are an average user, that’s significantly more cycles than you will initiate in the computer’s five-to- seven-year-life. When you turn your computer off, you not only reduce energy use, you also lower heat stress and wear on the system. 2 Turning your computer off and then back on uses more energy than leaving it on. The surge of power used by a CPU to boot up is far less than the energy your computer uses when left on for more than three minutes. 3 Screen savers save energy. This is a common misconception. Screen savers were originally designed to help prolong the life of monochrome monitors. Those monitors are now technologically obsolete. Screen savers save energy only if they actually turn off the screen or, with laptops, turn off the backlight. 4 Network connections are lost when computers go into low-power/sleep mode. Newer computers are designed to sleep on networks without loss of data or connection. CPUs with Wake on LAN (WOL) technology can be left in sleep mode overnight to wake up and receive data packets sent to the unit. back | table of contents | next
- 5. Green Computing Did You Know… Did You Know… • An average desktop computer requires 85 watts just to idle, even with the monitor off. If that computer were in use or idling for only 40 hours a week instead of a full 168, over $40 in energy costs would be saved annually. • One computer left on 24 hours a day costs you between $115 and $160 in electricity costs annually while dumping 1,500 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. • A tree absorbs between 3 and 15 pounds of CO2 each year. That means up to 500 trees are needed to offset the annual emissions of one computer left on all the time! • If each household in a region the size of the metro Boston area turned off its computer for just one additional hour per day, it would save $3.2 million in electricity costs and prevent 19,000 tons of CO2 from heating the atmosphere. • Electricity production is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, ahead of transportation. back | table of contents | next
- 6. Green Computing Save the Planet, Save Your Equipment, Save Money Save the Planet, 1 Turn off your computer at night so it runs only eight hours a day—you’ll reduce your energy use by 810 Save Your Equipment, kWh per year and net a 67 percent annual savings. Save Money 2 Plug your computer into a surge protector with a master control outlet, which automatically senses 20 Tips for Green Computer Use when the computer is not in use and cuts power to it and all your peripherals. 3 Purchase flat-screen monitors—they use significantly less energy and are not as hard on your eyes as CRTs. 4 Purchase an Energy Star–compliant computer. Note that laptop models use much less energy than desktop units. back | table of contents | next
- 7. Green Computing Save the Planet, Save Your Equipment, Save Money 5 Plan your computer-related activities so you can do them all at once, keeping the computer off at other times. 9 Review document drafts and e-mails onscreen instead of printing them out. 6 Consider a smaller monitor—a 14-inch display uses 40 percent less energy than a 17-inch one. 10 Power off your monitor when you are not using it instead of using screen savers. 7 Enable the standby/sleep mode and power management settings on your computer. 11 Consider using an ink-jet printer—although a bit slower than laser printers, inkjets use 80 to 90 percent less energy. 8 Forgo the screen saver—it doesn’t save energy or your screen unless you’re using an old monochrome monitor. 12 Buy vegetable or non-petroleum-based inks— they are made from renewable resources, require fewer hazardous solvents, and often produce brighter, cleaner colors. back | table of contents | next
- 8. Green Computing Save the Planet, Save Your Equipment, Save Money 13 Turn off all printers and peripherals unless you are using them. 17 Network and share printers where possible. 14 Do not leave the computer running overnight or on weekends. 18 Print on recycled-content paper. Look for non-chlorine bleached papers with 50 to 100 percent post-consumer waste. 15 Choose dark backgrounds for your screen display—bright-colored displays consumer more power. 19 Use double-sided printing functions. 16 Reduce the light level in your room when you are working on your computer. 20 E-mail communications as an alternative to paper memos and fax documents. back | table of contents | next
- 9. Green Computing How to Create a Green Machine How to Create a Green Machine Activating the power management features on your computer saves energy and money while helping the environment. Your computer’s SLEEP and HIBERNATE settings are two of the most effective ways for you to make your computer more environmentally friendly. You can activate these functions manually or through your operating system’s pre-set power management settings. Ideal for when you Sleep Mode are away from your Sleep or standby mode conserves energy by cutting off power to your display, hard drive, computer for frequent, and peripherals. After a pre-set period of inactivity, your computer switches to a low power short periods of time. state. When you move your mouse or press any computer key, you exit sleep mode and your computer takes you back to its previous operating state. Sleep mode is an especially effective way to conserve battery power in a laptop computer. However, if your computer loses power for any reason while in sleep mode, you may lose unsaved work. Ideal for when you Hibernate Mode are away from your Hibernate mode saves energy and protects your work by copying system data to a computer for extended reserved area on your hard drive and then completely turning off your computer. It also periods of time. reduces wear and tear on your components. When you turn power back on, your files and your documents appear on your desktop just as you left them. Be sure to set your system to automatically go into hibernate mode any time your battery power reaches a critically low level. back | table of contents | next
- 10. Green Computing How To Create a Green Machine Follow These Guidelines to Enable Your Computer’s Power Management Features: Windows Vista Windows XP/2000 Windows 98 Mac OS X Mac OS 9 • Select Start Settings Control • Select Start Settings Control • Select Start Settings Control • Click on the apple symbol (Apple • Click on the apple symbol (Apple Panel from the Start Menu. Panel from the Start Menu. Panel from the Start Menu. Menu) in the upper left corner of Menu) in the upper left corner of your screen. your screen. • The Control Panel has two views. If • In the Display Properties window, • Double-click the Display icon in the you are in the Theme View, select click the Screen Saver tab, then Control Panel window. • Go to System Preferences, click • Go to Control Panels and select System Maintenance and then click the Power button in the Energy Show All, and select Energy Saver Energy Saver. Power Options. Saving Features of Monitor box. • In the Display Properties window, from the Hardware row. click the Screen Saver tab, then click • Click on the Sleep Setup tab. • If you are in Classic View, simply • Under Power Schemes, select the Settings button in the Energy • Click on the Show Details button. double click on Power Options. Home/Office Desk. Saving Features of Monitor box. • Using the slider, set Put the • Select Power Adapter under System to Sleep Whenever It’s • Once you are in Power Options, • Set Turn Off Monitor for 15 minutes • Under Power Schemes, select Settings For. Inactive for 30 minutes or less. click Create a Power Plan link. or less. Home/Office Desk. • Using the slider, set Put the • Check the box for Separate • Enter a name for your new plan in • Set Turn Off Hard Disks for 15 • Set Turn Off Monitors for 15 Computer to Sleep When It Is Timing for Display Sleep and set the Plan Name field and click Next. minutes or less. minutes or less. Inactive for 30 minutes or less the time for 15 minutes or less, using the slider. • Set Turn Off the Display for 15 • Set System Standby for 30 minutes • Set Turn Off Hard Disks for 15 • Check the box for Use Separate minutes of less. or less. minutes or less. Time to Put the Display to Sleep • Check the box for Separate and set the time for 15 minutes or Timing for Hard Disk Sleep and • Set Put Computer to Sleep for 30 • Click OK. • Set System Standby for 30 minutes less, using the slider. set the time for 15 minutes or less, minutes or less. or less. using the slider. • Check Put the Hard Disk to Sleep • Click the Create button to create • Click OK. When Possible. and activate your new Power Plan. • To make additional changes, click on Change Plan Settings underneath the name of the plan you just created. • Click on Change Advanced Power Settings. Here you will be able to enable or set values for a variety of Power Management options. • Set Turn Off Hard Disks After for 15 minutes or less. • Click OK. • Click Save Changes. back | table of contents | next 10
- 11. Green Computing Do You Believe in Vampires? Do You Believe in Vampires? You’d better. In fact, there are probably several vampires in your home right now, sucking power from your electric outlets and money from your wallet. Anything that uses When your computer, plasma TV, or stereo is off, you probably think it is using as little power as possible. Fact is, a remote continues these devices have high standby power use. What’s more, all of the peripherals connected to your computer— to consume power printer, monitor, USB hub, scanner, DSL/cable modem, etc.—continue to consume “idle current” as well. even when it’s turned off—for example, when There may be as many as 20 devices drawing standby power in your home. These include any device with a remote a TV is “off,” it’s really control and external power supply (or adapter), permanently illuminated digital displays and LEDs, and many new partially “on” so that larger appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators. the picture comes on quickly when you hot According to the Department of Energy, “vampire energy loss” represents between 5 and 8 percent of a single- the remote. This is family home’s total electricity use per year. On average, that equals one month’s electricity bill. Taken across the called “vampire energy United States, it adds up to at least 68 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—that’s the equivalent output of use” or “phantom 37 typical electricity-generating power plants, costing consumers more than $7 billion. The result of all this wasted energy use.” energy? More than 97 billion pounds of carbon dioxide seeping into the atmosphere each year. On a global scale, standby energy accounts for 1 percent of the world’s carbon emissions, according to Alan Meier of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. back | table of contents | next 11
- 12. Green Computing A Vampire’s Worst Nightmare: Surge Protection with Master Control A Vampire’s Worst Nightmare: Surge Protection with Master Control So how do you combat those vampire energy loads? Fortunately, when it comes to your computer and electronics, there’s an easy solution: a surge protector with a master control outlet. Simply plug your computer into the master outlet and your peripherals into the controlled outlets. The master outlet senses when your computer powers down or goes into sleep mode and automatically shuts down the controlled outlets. Your peripherals no longer suck up energy when they are in standby mode— and vampire loads no longer take a bite out of your monthly budget. back | table of contents | next 1
- 13. Green Computing Recycling E-Waste Recycling E-Waste A recent study by the EPA shows that electronics make up approximately 1 percent of the municipal solid waste stream. Research completed in Europe shows that electronics waste is growing at three times the rate of other municipal waste. Clearly, an essential part of green computing includes proper disposal of components that you no longer use. How Much E-Waste Is Out There? • In a 2006 report, the International Association of Electronics Recyclers projects that with the current growth and obsolescence rates of the various categories of consumer electronics, approximately 3 billion units will be scrapped during the rest of this decade, or an average of 400 million units a year. • Gartner has estimated that 133,000 personal computers are discarded by U.S. homes and businesses each day. • Each year 130 million cell phones are retired. • According to the EPA, we generated 2.6 million tons of e-waste in the U.S. in 2005, or 1.4 percent of total discards. Of this amount only 12.6% was recycled. • About 68 percent of consumers stockpile used or unwanted computer equipment in their homes. back | table of contents | next 1
- 14. Green Computing Recycling E-Waste Reuse and Recycle: Common Questions About Managing E-Waste I just bought a new If your old computer is less than five years old, chances are computer. What should I someone else can put it to good use. Donating electronics do with my old one? for reuse extends the life of valuable products and keeps them out of the waste management system. What about my old Remember that a functional, complete system, including peripherals? monitor, wiring, printer, and software licenses, is preferable to a non-working, incomplete setup. Chances are, your recipient may not have the resources or expertise to make good use of a single component. Whom should I donate Schools, non-profit organizations, and lower-income my old computer to? families are ideal candidates. You may also be able to take advantage of tax incentives for computer equipment donations. back | table of contents | next 1
- 15. Green Computing Recycling E-Waste Are there any Here are three organizations that can provide information on donating your computer: resources to help Goodwill Industries: Many Goodwills accept computer donations to help individuals with disabilities and other disadvantages upgrade their job skills and enter the workforce. www.goodwill.org me find a suitable Materials Exchange: Many materials exchanges accept electronics. You’ll find a state-by-state listing at this site. recipient? www.epa.gov/jtr/comm/exchstat.htm Reuse Development Organization (ReDO): ReDO is a non-profit organization that promotes reuse of discarded and surplus materials, including electronics. www.redo.org What if my old If your computer cannot be reused, recycling it is your next waste management option. computer cannot Recycling electronics avoids pollution and the need to extract valuable and limited be reused? virgin resources. It also reduces the energy used in new product manufacturing. What are my options Contact your city or town to see if it offers computer and electronics collections as part for recycling? of household hazardous waste services, or if there is a recycling drop-off center in your area. Also, check with TV repair shops, charitable organizations, an electronics recycling company, or even local electronics retailers—they may be your best option for recycling. Are there any online To find an electronics recycling organization in your area, visit the following web site: resources to help EIA Consumer Education Initiative (CEI): This site will help you find environmentally responsible options for donating and recycling electronics in your community. www.eiae.org me find a recycling organization in my area? back | table of contents | next 1
- 16. Green Computing Key Takeaways Key Takeaways • About 25 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed when the devices are turned off. • It takes less energy to boot up a computer than it does to leave it running for more than 3 minutes. • Plug functionally related electronics into a surge protector (or UPS) that features a master outlet/controlled outlet technology to avoid vampire energy use. Example: Plug a computer into the master outlet and the peripherals (printer, speakers, etc.) into the controlled outlets. When the computer powers down, the master outlet automatically shuts off power to the peripherals. back | table of contents | next 1
- 17. Green Computing Now What? Now What? Up to $0 savings per year Home computer use APC power saving SurgeArrest® and/or Back-UPS® About 25% of electricity used to power home electronics is consumed when the equipment is turned off. Plugging the devices into an energy-saving APC Back-UPS ES or SurgeArrest unit allows you to cut power to these “dark loads,” saving an average of $40 annually. Learn more about APC Surge Arrest® power-savings surge protectors and Back-UPS® ES “green” models with master/controlled outlets and other eco-friendly, cost-cutting features. Learn about the “green” Back-UPS ES 750 here Learn about the “green” Back-UPS ES 650 here Learn about the “green” power-saving SurgeArrest unit here back | table of contents | next 1
- 18. Green Computing ©2008 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks are property of Schneider Electric or its affiliated companies. e-mail: esupport@apc.com address: 132 Fairgrounds Road, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA Please feel free to post this on your blog or email it to whoever might be interested. EGR0308 back | table of contents 1