Employers 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, says a new report out today.
After surveys in the UK, USA and Germany, the 2009 PC Energy Report says that: "Despite spiralling energy costs and the environment playing an increased role in the corporate agenda, much further action is required by both individuals and employers."
Global Windows Management software company 1E and the business/government/environmental coalition Alliance to Save Energy commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct surveys to show how organisations can easily cut energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint by better understanding user behaviour in the workplace.
Key statistics in the report show that the environment is the main reason why 27 per cent of PC users in the UK power down their computers at the end of the working day compared to only ten per cent who cited this reason in the USA. If the 17 million workers in the UK who regularly use a computer turned it off at night, it would reduce CO2 emissions by approx 1.3 million tons, the equivalent of removing 245,000 cars from the road, says the report.
It calculates that 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.
Reducing overheads
“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.”
And Sumir Karayi, chief executive officer of 1E, added: "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."
Karayi said that most employed adults who use a PC at work believe that their companies should be doing more to reduce power consumption (63 per cent in the US, 67 per cent in the UK), suggesting that power management initiatives would be welcomed by employees. In fact, a significant amount of workers believe that their companies should be doing much more to reduce power consumption in the workplace (30 per cent in the UK, 24 per cent in the US).
In the US, the survey was conducted between September 4-8th, 2008 among 2112 US adults aged 18+, of whom 1258 are employed: a follow-up survey was conducted between October 15-17th among 2631 US adults aged 18+, of whom 1717 are employed. In Germany it was conducted between September 3-12th, 2008 among 2028 German adults aged 18+, of whom 1432 are employed. In the UK, it was conducted between September 3-12th, 2008 among 2021 UK adults aged18+, of whom 1273 are employed.
