As energy prices continue to rise relentlessly around the world, other cost pressures on companies also refuse to go away. Many organizations, however, still tend to underestimate the energy related expenses caused by their hardware, particularly when it comes to the thousands of office workplaces furnished with PCs. The less energy-efficient these devices are, the higher the costs, and they can really add up. The industry is working on technology that help companies to reduce their costs, and Fujitsu Siemens Computers is playing a leading role. But saving energy is about much more than discussing costs. It is about helping to protect the environment. With little effort, everybody can contribute to the green attitude. Here are some ideas:

1. Switch off your PC and Monitor
   

   At the end of the working day PCs and monitors should be switched off at the main switch or, where appropriate, at the power bar or plug connector. This prevents standby switches from needlessly consuming energy.

2. Adjust your power management settings

   By adjusting power management settings in the operating system, you can adapt a computer?s power usage to suit your working rhythm ? at least partially. It is also very important that the monitor deactivates when not in use, particularly since people tend to switch off their computer in the evening, but not the display. The switched monitor outlet from Fujitsu Siemens Computers does just that, preventing the display from idly guzzling power all night. Indeed, the greatest amount of energy can be conserved by avoiding unproductive operation. Studies in Canada revealed that computers are only used for about 12 percent of the time they are running. And they often remain switched on overnight or during the weekend, even when not in use.

   The power management values for any PC or notebook can also be set manually:

   • Press right mouse button on the screen
   • Select properties tap "screen saver" ? chapter "monitor power"
   • Press "Power?"
   
   
   Recommended settings for lowest energy consumption
   
   

   Settings for	net	battery
   Screen off	10 min	5 min
   HD off	15 min	10 min
   Standby	20 min	15 min
   Hibernating	1 h	30 min

   
   
   

   Upgrade only what is needed

3. Another common phenomenon is the use of desktops that are far more powerful than necessary to perform typical office applications. Many applications in the office environment would benefit more from additional memory than high-performance processors. In such cases, older machines with more ?frugal? processors could be upgraded and remain in service. After all, the faster the processor, the greater the power dissipation and thus electricity consumption.

4. If you are buying a new PC - check the label

   If you are going to buy a new PC then think Green and check the labeling to see what standards the PC you want to buy conforms to. The European Commission offers detailed information about the ENERGY STAR eco-label as well as the power consumption of modern office computers at www.eu-energystar.org. The website features an energy calculator for PCs, monitors and imaging equipment at companies and public sector operations, as well as for consumers. It enables a detailed comparative calculation to be made of power consumption and overall costs by allowing for numerous factors. These include purchase price, depreciation periods, and everyday usage scenarios, including specifying power requirements and if an uninterruptible power supply is used. Even the air conditioning system?s effects on electricity requirements are taken into account.