More and more pressure is being placed on businesses to become energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint. Even the energy companies, which make money by selling energy, are regulated to cut back.
So, how do you consume less energy in your workplace? The answer is smart technology, in many cases. While building our new corporate headquarters in St. Cloud a couple of years ago and our regional headquarters in Fargo this year, we found many ways we could use technology to help us consume less energy at Marco. It’s a win-win. We help the planet and spend less money in operations.
There are many opportunities and we had a full energy model analysis completed before we built our headquarters. We received a detailed report of our options and how they would save us money in operations and when they would likely deliver a return on the investment. As a numbers guy erring on the side of energy reduction, I believe in investing in products or services that can deliver a return within seven years or less.
Here are three ways your organization can use technology to save on energy costs, too:
- Data Virtualization
You have heard me talk about this before. With virtual servers, you can run more than one server on the same piece of hardware and manage multiple servers from a central location. The concept has been around for quite some time, but is fast becoming the go-to practice in business because of the space, cost and energy savings it provides.
Powering and cooling servers takes a lot of energy. Many organizations spend as much on energy for their data centers as they do on hardware, according to Gartner Inc. Every virtual server delivers an 80 percent reduction in total energy costs on average.
- Virtual Desktop
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) allows you to host what you’re accustomed to through your desktop operating system on a centralized, secure server. Making this move means you can go from using 150-200 watts per device to 4 watts through the use of a thin client rather than desktop or laptop. It does require an upfront investment, but it’s unbelievable the difference this one change can make.
I really appreciate the VDI concept because it allows me to log in from a variety of devices and get everything I need to do my job – just like when I am sitting my desk. VDI also reduces the total cost of ownership and gives both your software and hardware a longer shelf life.
- Switch to LED
When we built our new headquarters, we made a commitment to only invest in LED screens. Yes, LCD televisions typically are less expensive. But LED screens use less power and put off less heat while providing a brighter display with better contrast than the traditional LCD screen.
It’s because of the technology they use. LED screens use emitting diodes (LED) for backlighting, compared to the cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) used in traditional LCD televisions. The result is an average savings of about 30 percent. No to mention, LEDs typically have a longer life span.
This is just the beginning. The opportunities available because of advancements in technology are vast and continue to emerge. We know more today about energy consumption and the impact of standby power – also known as vampire power. Consumption really does not end unless the device is unplugged or shut off.
A computer typically uses 40 watts when running, and between 20 watts and 30 watts on standby. Monitors tend to be more efficient, using 80 watts when running and 10 watts to 15 watts on standby.
You can do the math. In a company with 200 pcs, turning off or even unplugging all the computers and monitors at night – and unplugging them completely when leaving for extended periods – would stack up to significant savings. Unplugging devices can be cumbersome, but it is made easier with power strips that can be unplugged or shut off from the outlet completely.
Yes, even the small steps matter. I’d love to hear what you’re doing to reduce energy consumption at your office. Share it here or on the Marco Facebook page at Facebook.com/marcoinc.
