Reducing I.T. Energy Costs

We are all very aware that the costs of energy are increasing and as a very rough rule of thumb, we assume a desktop PC typically uses around 100 watts of electricity. While the PC base unit may use less than this, if we use the average 100w consumption per user, it allows for screens, printers, etc.  

 

The current government energy price cap (October 2022) is set at 0.34p Kilowatt Hour. 

 

If a single PC runs 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, it will equate to the following: 

 

  • 100W = 0.1kW 
  • 0.1kW x 24 hours = 2.4 kWh per 24 hour day 
  • 2.4 kWh x 0.34p = £0.82 per day (24 Hours) 
  • 16.8 kWh x 0.34p = £5.72 per week (7 days, 24 hours per day)  
  • 72 kWh x 0.34p = £24.48 per month (30 days, 24 hours per day)  
  • 876 kWh x 0.34p = £297.84 per annum (365 days, 24 hours per day)  

 

If we cut the operating hours for a single PC to 8 hours per day and 5 days per week, the running costs will reduce to the following:  

 

  • 100W = 0.1kW 
  • 0.1kW x 8 hours = 0.8 kWh per 8 hour day 
  • 0.8 kWh x 0.34p = £0.28p per day (8 Hours) 
  • 5.6 kWh x 0.34p = £1.92 per week (5 days, 8 hours per day) 
  • 27.6 kWh x 0.34p = £9.39 per month (22 days, 8 hours per day)  
  • 208 kWh x 0.34p = £70.72 per annum (260 days, 8 hours per day)  

 

Whilst every business will be different, and different devices will consume varying amounts of power, the evidence is compelling from the example above. A saving of £227.12 per user, per annum, just by switching equipment off or having equipment go to sleep during non-business hours.  This could be up to a £2271.20 saving per annum for a 10-user business.

 

Please tell staff to switch their machines off when they are not in use, or talk to Tycom about implementing automatic policies that put machines to sleep during non-business hours.