Tips for Saving Significant Energy in

Your Business Computing

.

The shift from a paper-based existence toward cloud computing might help save
trees, but it isn't exactly energy neutral. Computer technology requires gobs of
energy, accounting for about 2% of all human-created CO2 output, Green
Computing reports. And it's estimated that IT energy usage will double in the next
four years.

Fortunately, there are several easy ways to reduce energy usage in the office:

Minimizing Energy Use

A PC Pro Labs study found that 25 percent of U.S. employees leave their work
computers on all weekend. One of the simplest ways to reduce your company's
energy usage is to turn them off. Contrary to popular myth, shutting down your
computer at the end of the day will always save energy, as the energy conserved
more than offsets the energy required to restart a computer.

Get the rest of the office on board by calling a company meeting to review energy
use policies and actively encouraging employees to power down computers when
they are not in use.

It also helps to optimize each machine's power settings. According to PC Pro Labs,
67% of workers run a screensaver, which causes the monitor to consume energy.
It's much more efficient to set your computer to sleep or hibernate mode, which
can cut output by as much as a half a ton of CO2 a year and translate into about
$60 in energy savings per computer per year.

To access power options in Windows XP, go to Start > Control Panel > Power
options. On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Energy Saver. You should be able
to adjust how long your machine will remain idle before the going into monitor
sleep mode, hard disk sleep mode and system standby.
Making Better Purchases

Energy conservation begins with the purchasing decisions you make. You can
reduce your company's power usage by seeking out energy-efficient products.

Choose laptops. Laptops use up to 90% less energy than desktop computers, so
consider buying a laptop for that next computer upgrade.
 

Look for ENERGY STAR. The government awards the ENERGY STAR label to
products, homes and manufacturing plants that are energy efficient.
 

Consider monitor type and size. Flat-screen LCD monitors are more efficient than
traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors, and smaller monitors require less
energy than larger ones. Even something as simple as lowering the brightness on
your screen can significantly reduce your energy usage.
 

Consider adding a remote-access device. IT service professionals can tell you how
virtualization, smart strips and other forward-thinking approaches can help you
save energy and money.

Conducting Energy Audits

An energy audit is the ultimate tool for reducing energy usage in any
organization. You may be able to obtain one through an IT provider, independent
contractor or local power company. Such audits examine not only computer
usage but light bulb efficiency, building insulation and more. You can also find
information about do-it-yourself energy audits online.

Once you make energy efficiency a priority, you'll find all sorts of ways to save
energy and money. Plus, you'll ensure that your company is on the upside of the
green computing wave sweeping through the IT world.

About the Author: Colleen Welch invites you to learn more about green
computing in Portland by contacting Ascensha, an Oregon small business IT
consulting firm.p>

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