Power Consumption by Computer Monitors at

Different Contrast/Brightness Levels and its

Impact on the Carbon Footprint

IRIS National Science Fair 2012

Project Report

Age Category- 5th to 8th Standard

Subject category-Engineering: Electrical and
Mechanical

SISHU GRIHA MONTESSORI AND HIGH SCHOOL

Guide: Suryanarayana Rao. S.R.

Participants: Sanjna Rao
Sharanya Srinivasan

1
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
Sl. No. Topic
No.
1 INTRODUCTION 3
2 METHODOLOGY & EXPERIMENTATION 8
3 DISCUSSION WITH EXPERTS & SURVEY 23
4 CONCLUSION 30
5 FUTURE SCOPE 32
6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 33

2
INTRODUCTION

3
OBJECTIVE

Nowadays with advancing technology, the number of people using computers

has increased over the decades. Therefore more power is consumed having a
negative impact on the environment. So, we would like to help save the
environment by reducing the power consumed and find its impact on the carbon
footprint.

Our project aims at:

1. Studying the power consumption at different brightness and contrast levels
2. Empirically arriving at an equation to estimate the power consumption for
different models
3. Arriving at optimum contrast and brightness levels
4. Calculating the impact on carbon footprint
5. Recording the light intensity of computer monitors at different
contrast/brightness levels and the power consumption
6. Optimise the differential brightness between monitor and ambient to conserve
energy

ORIGIN OF THE IDEA:

A power management study was conducted in our school’s computer lab, jointly
by Mr. Gautam Prakash, Reap Benefit (www.reapbenefit.org) and our project
guide, Mr. SRS Rao. The aim of this project was to establish the “best” practices
in setting monitor brightness and PC power saving settings. Their objective was
to find out power consumption under various scenarios – with/without drivers,
dust inside CPU box, varying brightness/contrast etc. This project led us to think
further and wonder if varying brightness/contrast had an impact on the carbon
footprint.

We also found out by chance that one of our parents’ laptop monitor adjusts
brightness automatically when the battery power reduces. This set us thinking
about what happens in large offices where many desktops are in use whose
monitors consume large amounts of power despite taking power saving
measures.

HYPOTHESES:

1. Power consumption by computer monitors is affected by the change in

contrast and brightness levels.
2. This affects the carbon footprint having a negative effect on the environment.
3. Light intensity is directly related to power consumed.
4. By a detailed study of power consumption as a function of brightness/contrast
and differential brightness, it is possible to optimize the energy consumption.

4
IMPACT:

1. Reducing power consumption and cost.

2. Saving of 1 kilo-watt hour results in reducing 0.9kilogram of emission of
carbon dioxide.
3. It has a large impact in giant software companies.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

1. Computers
2. Power Meter
3. Lux Meter

THE UNIQUE ASPECT OF OUR PROJECT:

While monitors can be configured to use optimum power, it appears that based
on our literature survey, no one has studied the impact of brightness and contrast
on power consumption and also their impact on the environment i.e. calculate the
carbon footprint.

5
The aim of this project is to study the impact of contrast and brightness levels on
power consumption. Although the impact may appear small, a large organization
uses a large number of computers, mostly desktops; the power consumption will
be a significant value. We want to find out how much that would be and in turn
want to find out the impact on the carbon footprint.
We have measured the power consumption by monitors at different brightness
and contrast levels and drawn graphs. We have used an electronic power meter
to measure power consumption in our home desktops and school desktops. We
have solved the simultaneous equations to solve for the constants by using
software available on the internet to handle large number of equations.
We have arrived at a model specific empirical formula that would calculate power
consumption. As every kwh of electrical energy is equivalent to 900 grams of
carbon dioxide, carbon footprint also can be calculated.
(Scanned copies of the data observed on different computers are attached to this
document)
We have 13 graphs per system showing the variation of power consumption vs.
brightness.

Literature Survey

Our research has indicated that independent sources have studied and charted
contrast vs. brightness but we have not encountered any study with respect to
power consumption and impact on carbon footprint.
The websites given below have done an independent study on how contrast and
brightness levels effect power consumption:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/lcd-backlight-led-cfl,2683-7.html
(In this website only the contrast values have been changed.)
http://www.shadlock.co.uk/energy/electric/computers4.html
http://atrak.usc.edu/~massoud/Papers/cbcs-date04-talk.pdf
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Adjust-your-monitors-
brightness-and-contrast

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/monitor6.htm

http://www.poynton.com/notes/brightness_and_contrast/

http://www.metalvortex.com/chart/

http://www.dvhardware.net/article13878.html

http://www.spearsandmunsil.com/articles/settingthebrightnesscontrol.html

http://compreviews.about.com/od/monitors/a/LCD-Monitor-Buyers-Guide.htm

6
Dell energy calculator
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/global/products/monitors/topics/en/
monitor-energy-calculator?c=us&l=en&s=corp

SIMILAR WORK DONE

http://reviews.cnet.com/green-tech/monitor-power-efficiency/
(Speaks of how brightness only affects power consumption)

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=979359

http://darrenyates.com.au/2008/09/dropping-brightness-levels-can-save-10-
watts-continuously-reduce-power-consumption/227

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_CRT,_LCD,_Plasma,_and_OLED

LCD AND CRT MONITORS

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/monitor5.htm

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/monitor6.htm

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/monitor7.htm

7
METHODOLOGY AND
EXPERIMENTATION

8
1) Study of power consumption in computer monitors at varying brightness
and contrast levels using a digital power meter.

 Adjust the brightness and contrast to 40% brightness and 40%

 Keep the contrast constant and change brightness level in steps

contrast.

 Vary the contrast levels in steps of five each time you finish
of five until you reach 100%

 Repeat the process until you reach 100% brightness and

changing brightness levels until 100%

 Take readings of the power consumed using a power meter each

contrast.

 Simultaneously measure the light intensity of the computer

time you change the contrast or brightness.

 As power consumption constantly fluctuates, take 6 readings.

monitor and note it down.

 Take an average of the six readings to arrive at one number

which will be an average of the power consumed.

2) Graphically represented the variation of power

 Draw graphs of power consumption vs. brightness and contrast

3) Empirically arrive at a model specific empirical relation between

brightness, contrast and power consumption

 Solved simultaneous equations to arrive at constants A, B, and C

 Using A, B and C we solved the linear equation A*Brightness +

using a MS Excel macro.

B*Contrast + C to arrive at an estimated power consumption.

4) Studied power consumption as a function of differential brightness

 We measured the ambient Light Intensity (lux) and subtracted

between ambient and monitor

this from the light intensity of the monitor to get the actual light
intensity of the monitor.

 We conducted a survey of people from classes 7th, 8th and a few

5) Conducted survey

 The survey was done with 3 monitors - each with a different

teachers.

setting. The content shown was the same. The three monitors
were placed on the same table. Therefore the ambient light for all
three monitors was the same. The ambient light intensity was 29
Lux.
9
  Round 1 - 3 significantly different settings (50% contrast and
brightness, 75% contrast and brightness, 100% contrast and
brightness). Respondents saw the 3 settings and were asked to
rate the setting that they liked the most. They were then asked
why they selected it. The next questions were "what if you have
to work for a long time - say 3 hours?" and "If we told you the
monitor with the least brightness helped conserve the

 Round 2 - had 3 settings incremented by 10 points starting with

environment, would you use it?"

70% brightness and contrast. The first question was if people

recalled any difference in the settings (B & C). Most did not
notice the difference in the 2 brighter monitors from the prior
settings. This was done to see if there was any significant value
of having the monitor at its brightest setting.
The second was to repeat the rating. The standard trend was that
they selected the monitor with the in-between settings.

6) Recommend optimum band width of differential brightness in the monitors

to conserve energy

7) Estimate carbon footprint.

Digital Power Meter that was used to take the readings

10
Power meter connected to the monitor via an Noting down the readings
extension cord

Noting the light intensity of the monitor using a Lux Meter

11
Here are a few samples for the data collected.

The following are readings for a certain LCD monitor for 60%, 65%, 70% and 75% contrast.

60% Contrast

65% Contrast

12
70% Contrast

75% Contrast

13
These are hand drawn graphs for the same monitor.

14
15
These are the power consumption readings for a CRT computer.

40% Contrast

45% Contrast

16
50% Contrast

55% Contrast

17
These are the hand drawn graphs for the same CRT monitor.

18
19
We also have excel-drawn graphs for another LCD monitor.

80% contrast
Power
Consumed Brightness 100%
(w) (%) 95%
21.90 40% 90%
22.72 45% 85%
23.40 50% 80%
24.01 55% 75%
24.50 60% 70%
24.90 65% 65%

25.47 70% 60%

55%
27.02 75%
50%
28.63 80%
45%
28.59 85%
40%
28.60 90%
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
28.56 95%
28.54 100% X-axis: Power Consumed (w); Y-axis: Brightness (%)

85% contrast
Power
100%
Consumed Brightness
(w) (%) 95%
90%
21.83 40%
85%
22.47 45%
80%
23.20 50%
75%
23.71 55%
70%
24.17 60%
65%
24.66 65%
60%
25.07 70%
55%
26.56 75% 50%
28.29 80% 45%
28.48 85% 40%
28.45 90% 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
28.46 95%
X-axis: Power Consumed (w); Y-axis: Brightness (%)
28.49 100%

20
90% Contrast

Power
100%
Consumed Brightness
(w) (%) 95%
90%
21.73 40%
85%
22.39 45%
80%
23.02 50%
75%
23.62 55%
70%
24.12 60%
65%
24.59 65%
60%
25.02 70%
55%
26.74 75% 50%
28.18 80% 45%
28.29 85% 40%
28.30 90% 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
28.31 95%
X-axis: Power Consumed (w); Y-axis: Brightness (%)
28.34 100%

100% contrast
Power
100%
Consumed Brightness
(w) (%) 95%
90%
21.77 40%
85%
22.55 45%
80%
23.20 50%
75%
23.81 55%
70%
24.36 60%
65%
24.88 65%
60%
25.40 70%
55%
27.16 75% 50%
28.62 80% 45%
28.49 85% 40%
28.42 90% 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
28.35 95%
X-axis: Power Consumed (w); Y-axis: Brightness (%)
28.33 100%

21
We have also derived a formula to find out the power consumed.
The formula is (A*Brightness)+(B*Contrast)+(C or a constant value)= Power Consumed
We have found out the values for A, B and C.
A=0.028342
B=0.052854
C=18.19766
Actual
Power Carbon
Power
Brightness Contrast Calculated Error Footprint
Consumed
(watt) (g)
(watt)
70 85 26.24 25.06 1.18 22.554
45 70 23.17 22.63 0.54 20.367
65 70 23.73 24.97 -1.24 22.473
50 85 24.1 23.2 0.9 20.88
80 85 24.96 28.29 -3.33 25.461
40 65 22.76 21.9 0.86 19.71
95 65 24.32 28.77 -4.45 25.893
70 55 23.08 25.81 -2.73 23.229
50 85 24.1 23.2 0.9 20.88
100 100 26.31 28.33 -2.02 25.497
85 100 25.89 28.49 -2.6 25.641
55 60 22.92 24.15 -1.23 21.735
40 100 26.61 21.77 4.84 19.593

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 DISCUSSION WITH
EXPERTS & SURVEY

23
 PART 2
DISCUSSION WITH EXPERTS:
BY E-MAIL:

KRISHNARAJ RAO (NVIDIA)

Krishnaraj Rao (Rao@nvidia.com)
06-10-2012

Dear Sanjna,

Thank you for your letter, and I was happy to go through it and learn about the impressive project that you and
Sharanya are working on. I think that both, the project itself as well as your approach to investigating the power
consumption at various settings are good. Given that your overall goal is to find ways to reduce the effective
carbon footprint, I can suggest the following additions:

1. Most PCs & Laptops enter standby after a specified period of inactivity. It would be great to measure the monitor
power consumption in standby as well
…………………..
……………………..
……………………..
I would be happy to put you in touch with folks from my IT/Network department.

Once again, I think the project you are doing is pretty impressive for the 7 standard. I’d be more than happy to
th

help you in any way I can. Keep it up, and I wish you the best!

Take care,
Raj

NARAYANAN SUBRAMANYAM
IT Director – User Services
UNILEVER

Hello Sanjna
Some research data received from Dell
………………………..
………………………

2. For a specific monitor of theirs : How power consumption varies with brightness for Dell U2412M monitor.

Power consumption

Manufacturer Measured

100% brightness, with USB 72 W max., 29 W typ. 34.5 W

100% brightness n/a 33.8 W

50% brightness n/a 24.1 W

37% brightness (140cd/m?) n/a 21.3 W

24
0% brightness n/a 14.1 W

Standby mode < 0.5 W 0.9 W

Standby mode, USB not connected < 0.5 W 0.5 W

Off < 0.5 W 0.1 W

Unless indicated otherwise: without USB connection.

Regards
Narayanan

NITIN BHUSHAN (Master's program in Artificial Intelligence at the Department of Knowledge

Engineering, Maastricht University, The Netherlands)

nitin (bhushan.nitin@gmail.com)
06-10-2012
To: Sanjna Rao

Congrats for being shortlisted for the IRIS science fair. Your project is quite interesting.
I am not an expert, but I feel these points would help you..

1) "We observed that higher the contrast and brightness, more power is consumed. Thus we came to the
conclusion that brightness and contrast have a direct relation to power consumption."
…………..
………….
…………….
I'm also working on a power consumption management project right now :), so feel free to ask me any questions
anytime..I'll also forward the mail to a few of my friends who I guess can give you better answers.

Good luck!
nitin

MANVEL ALUR
(Environment Management and Climate Change Specialist)
ensydeindia.com

Dear Sanjana,

Congratulations on your effort! It is so encouraging to see that you are working towards this idea. I have a couple
of inputs that may be useful to you:

1. Why have you chosen this energy consumption point and not something else? This is important to explain
because as you say there are other areas where there could be significantly more energy saved. While I do
believe that this is an important aspect - it is useful to explain in detail your reasons for choosing this.

2. For past experiments of this nature please refer to Korean and Japanese examples - particularly in TV
monitors.

Good luck!
25
Manvel
BY TALK:
REAP BENEFIT (www.reapbenefit.org):

We spoke to Mr. Gautham Prakash from Reap Benefit on 5/11/12. He told us

many helpful things. He also helped us with setting up and conducting our people
survey.
gautamprakash (gautam.bass@gmail.com)

08-11-2012

To: SRS RAO settigunte

Cc: SANJNA RAO, GautamPrakash, Kuldeep Dantewadia0205.jpg

Dear Sir and Sanjna,

This is my take on the data. The middle setting always wins!
As the experiment has a direct impact on our day to day lives. Hence, we have taken a feedback from a sample
of 20 - 30 students and teachers to understand their preferences better. We have also tried to understand if there
is any recall on the settings and the reasons behind it.

The Surveys were done with 3 monitors - each with a different setting. The content shown was the same.
(Describe the placement of monitors, ambient lighting, etc here)
………………………….

…………………………………

………………………………….

The second was to repeat the rating. The standard trend was that they selected the monitor with the in-between
settings. (givepower savings at each setting.)
Warm Regards,
GautamPrakash
99862 40203
Reap Benefit

26
PEOPLE SURVEY DONE IN SCHOOL COMPUTER LABORATORY
ROUND I
Contrast Contrast Contrast
Name 50% 75% 100% Reason
Brightness Brightness Brightness
50% 75% 100%

Rao Sir 1 2 3 2,3 too bright

Radhika 3 2 1 3 is bright enough to see
Aditya 2 1 3 Not too dull or bright
Dhrupad 2 1 3 Perfect, not too bright or dull
Was not too bright or dull, no
Kaya 3 1 2 strain
Manav 3 2 1 Good brightness
Riya 3 2 1 Perfect
Paakhi 3 2 1 Good brightness
Aman 3 2 1 Nice, bright and attractive
Meghna 3 2 1 Vibrant and bright
Ashutosh 3 2 1 Brighter, clearer, attractive
Guru 3 1 2 Proper graphics
Abhinav 3 2 1 Looks clear
Nayan 3 1 2 Like the way it looks
Siddharth 3 1 2 Looks nice to work
Not hurting eyes, others too
Rajeshwari Aunty 1 2 3 bright
Nitya Aunty 3 1 2 Not too bright
Maheshwari Aunty 3 2 1 Bright
Komala Aunty 2 1 3 Perfect
Sahitya 3 2 1 Good brightness
Varsha 3 1 2 Not dark or bright
Maitreyi 3 2 1 Clear
Shivangi 3 2 1 Bright
Nirali 3 1 2 Not dull or bright
Varsha K. 3 2 1 Bright

27
PEOPLE SURVEY DONE IN SCHOOL COMPUTER LABORATORY
ROUND II
Contrast Contrast Contrast
Name 70% 80% 90%
Brightness Brightness Brightness
70% 80% 90% BLUE - One tubelight ON
RED - Two tubelights ON
BLACK - No tubelights,
Rao Sir 1 2 3 ambient only
BLANK - Readings not taken
Radhika 3 1 2 yet
Aditya 2 1 3
Dhrupad 1 2 3
Kaya 3 1 2
Manav 3 1 2
Riya 3 1 2
Paakhi 1 2 3
Aman 1 2 3
Meghna 1 2 3
Ashutosh 2 1 3
Guru
Abhinav
Nayan
Siddharth
Rajeshwari Aunty 1 2 3
Nitya Aunty 3 1 2
Maheshwari Aunty 2 1 3
Komala Aunty
Sahitya 1 2 3
Varsha 2 1 3
Maitreyi 1 2 3
Shivangi 3 2 1
Nirali 1 2 3
Varsha K. 1 2 3

28
People survey conducted at Sishu Griha Computer Laboratory

Discussion with Project Guide

29
CONCLUSION

30
CONCLUSION:
 We have realized that power consumption is affected by brightness and
contrast levels of a monitor. This also affects the carbon footprint which

 We have also realized that power consumption is brand dependent.Eg:

has a negative impact on the environment.

while brand A may use 28W of power at certain brightness contrast level,
brand B may use as much as 82W of power at the same

 Light intensity is also model specific but is more uniform than the power
contrast/brightness level.

 We also learnt that light intensity and power consumed are related as when
consumption.

 So, we feel that on large-scale basis there could be significant amounts of

the light intensity is more the power consumed is also higher.

power saved by optimizing the brightness in monitors which will also

reduce the carbon footprint.
Optimum band recommended based on our study for CRT and LCD
monitors and their impact on power consumption is summarized below
CRT Monitor Ambient Light Intensity (lux) = 29

Power
Consumed Carbon
Power
if set at full Foot-
Consumed by Power
Difference brightness Power Saved print
Power Light Power 100000 Consumed by
in Light and by 100000 Reducti
Consumption Intensity Saved Computers at 100000
Intensity contrast Computers on
(watt) (Lux) (watt) 100% Contrast Computers
(Lux) (100% (kilowatt) (kg
and Brightness (watt)
Contrast carbon
(watt)
and dioxide)
Brightness)

53.48 71 42 59.88 6.40 5988000 5348000 640 576.0

54.09 77 48 59.88 5.79 5988000 5409000 579 521.1
54.79 81 52 59.88 5.09 5988000 5479000 509 458.1

Average energy saved by 100000 Computers per hour

518.40
(kWh)
Average Carbon Footprint Reduced By 100000 Computers per hour(kg) 466.56

31
 LCD Monitor Ambient Light Intensity (lux) 29

Power
Consumed
Power Carbon
if set at full
Consumed by Power Foot-
Difference brightness Power Saved
Power Light Power 100000 Consumed by print
in Light and by 100000
Consumption Intensit Saved Computers at 100000 Reductn
Intensity contrast Computers
(watt) y (Lux) (watt) 100% Contrast Computers ( kg
(Lux) (100% (kilowatt)
and Brightness (watt) carbon
Contrast
(watt) dioxide)
and
Brightness)

26.75 74 45 28.33 1.58 2833000 2675000 158 142.2

25.19 75 46 28.33 3.14 2833000 2519000 314 282.6
24.47 81 52 28.33 3.86 2833000 2447000 386 347.4

Average Power Saved By 100000 Computers per hour

(kWh) 286
Average Carbon Footprint Reduced By 100000 Computers per hour(kg) 257.4

FUTURE SCOPE

 Contact sustainable energy departments of some organization with large

number of computers

 Conduct optimization of brightness and contrast in monitors in some

organizations and give our recommendations

Update: We are trying to contact Sustainable Energy Divisions of organisations to

present our findings and get their opinion.
From: SRS RAO settigunte
Date: Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 8:40 AM
Subject: Research on brightness impact on power and carbon foot print
To: Bhavna Mehra
Dear Ms. Bhavna Mehra,

Attaching herewith a research initiative at Sishu Griha in computer monitors based on differential brightness
Pl go through and give us an opportunity to interact with Sustainable energy division o your organization.
This is being presented at National Fair being organised by Intel at Delhi from Nov 29th to 2nd Dec,12

Kind regards,
SRS RAO
Sishu Griha

32
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

33
We express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to our project guide Mr. SRS Rao
who helped us, motivated us and patiently guided us all through the different
phases of the project. His continued support and encouragement helped shape
this project and is something that we will cherish forever.
ReapBenefit, the NGO that works towards a greener environment sowed the
seeds of this project and they have been kind enough to share their thoughts,
ideas and suggestions from which we benefitted enormously. Mr.
GautamPrakash, Reap Benefit specially motivated us and also helped us in
conducting survey
Our school Sishu Griha Montessori and High School has been extremely
supportive and especially the staff in the Computer Lab (Nitya Aunty,
Maheshwari Aunty, Komala Aunty and Sridevi Aunty). We thank them from the
bottom of our hearts. We also extend our warm gratitude to the Library and the
Librarian (Parvathy aunty) who allowed us to conduct several meetings in the
library.
A special mention goes out to our Principal, Mrs. Sujatha Mohandas, our
Headmistress, Mrs. Geetha Chandran and our class teacher Mrs. Meena N and
all our teachers who have stood by us all through our project allowing us to take
time off from classes to conduct our experiments.
A special thanks to all the experts who took time off their busy schedule to read
our email report and send their valuable feedback.
We would also like to thank our loving parents who were by our side during the
entire process of conducting experiments, writing the reports, keeping our morale
high all the time.

34