More than a year into its implementation of Revnetek's terminal computing system, Curro School in Durbanville has significantly reduced its energy consumption.
"The whole lab now uses as much power as one computer used to," says Flip Vorster, IT manager of Curro Schools Group.
Revnetek CEO Trevor Joseph explains that the system saves power by connecting each PC to a central server (or servers), eliminating a CPU at every workstation. "It's just a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse."
The system consists of a terminal that is mounted on the desk and is roughly the size of a cigarette box. "It is exactly like a normal PC, but there is nothing at your local workstation; it is all on the server," explains Joseph.
Teething problems
According to Vorster, the savings have been huge.
"The energy used by a normal PC with a cathode ray screen can be anywhere between 300 and 1 000 watts." With the new system, one workstation with a terminal and an LCD screen uses about 20 watts.
The first six months after implementation were difficult, says Vorster. "There were some serious challenges in finding the right server-terminal ratio. There were also issues concerning what programmes to use."
Vorster explains the school is saving on maintenance and other costs, including energy used on air conditioning. Money is also being saved on software licence fees, because programmes no longer need to be loaded onto individual computers.
The system was implemented in the Langebaan and Durbanville schools in January 2007.
Schools and energy
Barry Bredenkamp, general operations manager at the National Energy Efficiency Agency, says, while schools are not especially energy intensive, much can be done to save electricity. "Every kilowatt hour that can be saved should be saved."
He explains computing is not yet the biggest energy concern in schools because many schools do not have computer labs. "But it's changing, and it's changing quickly."
Andrew Etzinger, GM of demand-side management for Eskom, says that in schools that do have computer labs, they compete with lighting and heating for the biggest electricity users.
Currently, the biggest prohibiting factor for terminal computing in schools countrywide is cost. "The money goes to teaching, not technology," says Bredenkamp.
Etzinger says terminal computing makes a lot of sense. "We will use terminals in one of our facilities as a pilot". This is to be implemented in the middle of this year, at the conference centre, in Midrand.
Future schools
Both Bredenkamp and Etzinger believe that energy efficiency should be written into standards for new schools.
"The government is working on lighting standards for schools," says Etzinger.
Bredenkamp believes terminal computing is worth considering for standards. "It is the way to go," he explains. "It is always more expensive to go backwards".
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