The findings of the 2009 PC Energy Report have been released this week by 1E and the Alliance to Save Energy. Despite spiralling energy costs globally and the environment playing an increasing role in the corporate agenda, much further action is required by both individuals and employers.
1E and the Alliance to Save Energy commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct surveys in the UK, US and Germany to show how organisations can easily cut energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint by better understanding user behaviour in the workplace.
Tim James of sustainableIT, 1E's local partner, believes that although the research was conducted in Germany, the UK and US, the findings have as much relevance, if not more so, within the South African context. “We are still in the midst of an energy crisis and we interact with organisations on a daily basis that are leaving PCs in an idle state overnight. If we were to conduct a similar survey in South Africa, we would yield similar results. We are certainly less aware of our environmental impacts than UK-based employees and would have a similar profile to the report's findings on US employees,” he concludes.
Key statistics show that the environment is the main reason why 27% of UK workers power down their computers at the end of the workday compared to only 10% who cited this reason in the US. If the 17 million workers in the UK who regularly use a computer turned it off at night, it would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approx 1.3 million tons, the equivalent of removing 245 000 cars from the road.
Other key report findings include:
* Three in 10 workers in the UK do not always power down when they have finished working for the day. If a UK business with 10 000 computers leaves them on all night for one year, it will cost £168 000 and emit 828 tonnes of CO2. If a similar scenario was seen in South Africa, the cost would be R780 000 and the emissions would be 1.8 million tonnes. “In reality, we are seeing an opposite trend in South Africa. Our dealings with corporate South Africa indicate at least 70% of machines are being left on overnight,” James states. In this scenario, the energy waste is in the order of R1.82 million per annum.
* The information and communications technology (ICT) industry generates 2% of the world's carbon emissions, equivalent to aviation industry. Of this 2% up to 39% is created by PCs and monitors.
Asked why they power down their computers at night:
* UK employees were the most idealistic in their responses, with 27% saying they power down PCs to help the environment.
* The most common reason given by US employees (21%) was practical - to ensure the proper functioning of their PC.
Asked whether their employers should be doing more, responses revealed:
* Both US and UK employees who use a PC at work believe their employers should be doing more to reduce their company's power consumption (63% and 67% respectively).
The simple step of powering down a PC can reduce a machine's energy use by 80%, allowing companies to save more than R260 per desktop PC per annum.
“Powering down inactive PCs can provide a simple yet effective way for businesses to reduce overhead costs and environmental impact,” said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy. “The economic crisis and volatile energy prices make it even more imperative for businesses to save money by saving energy.”
“Employers today have a golden opportunity to demonstrate their environmental and financial leadership by taking a few simple, energy-saving measures, like setting up processes to power down PCs,” said Sumir Karayi, chief executive officer, 1E. “A computer uses energy even when it appears to be idle. Shutting down PCs when not in use will help businesses to significantly reduce costs while preventing tons of CO2 from being emitted into our atmosphere.”
A copy of the full 2009 PC Energy Report, which includes real-world PC energy successes from Dell, AT&T and the UK government, can be downloaded at http://www.sustainableIT.co.za under its resources section. The report is based on data resulting from two surveys conducted by leading market research firm Harris Interactive, on behalf of 1E and the Alliance to Save Energy.
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