Like companies all around the world, we are certainly not immune to the current tumultuous market conditions and future financial uncertainties. The economic crisis we face is in many ways out of our control as employees. Conversely, there are things we can all do to help better our position in these tough times; namely, conserving cash by identifying unnecessary recurring costs.

One major hidden cost at each of our desks is energy consumption. Although energy efficiency increases as technology improves, it can further be improved by the awareness and implementation of conservation practices. How does this relate to us? All IT hardware (such as computers, printers, scanners, etc.) comes with the cost of electrical power. This may not seem like a large cost, but can indeed add up quickly.

Power Management

Power Management places monitors and computers in a low-power “sleep mode” after a period of inactivity. Touching the keyboard or mouse “wakes” the computer to allow you to continue working when you return. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends setting computer settings to hibernate after 30 to 60 minutes of inactivity.

Benefits of Power Management

• Savings – In the U.S. alone, more than $2.8 billion is wasted each year from computers being left on when not in use.
• Security – Having your computer in “sleep mode” or turned off enhances computer security by reducing the chances of having confidential data being visible to someone passing by an unattended computer.

Myths about Power Management

• Myth: Turning a computer off reduces the computers lifespan.
• Truth: Putting a computer in “sleep mode” or turning it off actually lengthens the lifespan of the computer by reducing wear and tear. Think what it would be like if you never took a break or slept through the night!
• Myth: Turning a computer on and off uses up a lot of energy.
• Truth: Although there is a small surge when turning on a computer or “waking” a computer, this is small in comparison to the computer from being left on when not in use.
• Myth: Screensavers are an energy saving feature.
• Truth: Unless you have an older CRT monitor, screensavers have little use today. They were originally designed to prevent a stagnate image from being burned on the older CRT monitors, but LCD monitors do not suffer from this risk. Screensavers actually cause a constant energy drain and prevents the computer form actually entering “sleep mode.

What can we do?

We must identify areas to reduce unnecessary waste without effecting productivity. This could be as simple as turning off printers or monitors if leaving for lunch or a long meeting.  Can you think of other ways to conserve energy in your business?