CONNECTIONS

IDAHO
ITD HOME
511 TRAVEL SERVICES
IDAHO DMV
ITD NEWS
HIGHWAY SAFETY
IDAHO STATE POLICE


STATE OF IDAHO
NIATT

NATIONAL
AASHTO
AAMVA
AAA of IDAHO
FEDERAL HIGHWAYS
FEDERAL AVIATION
IDAHO STATE POLICE
NHTSA
NTSB
TRB
U.S. DOT

TRANSPORTER
Archives
Milestones
Comments

Idaho Transportation
Department

Office of Communications
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563

 


Energy savings may be as close as your fingertips

Are there energy savings waiting to be discovered on your desk?

A recent report by Nancy McPherson, Technology Investment Program manager for ITD, indicates laptop computers are more energy efficient than a stand-alone computer and monitor. She compared energy consumption of an MPC TransPort T2500 laptop computer with a desktop MPC Client Pro computer linked to a 17-inch flat screen monitor.

Her analysis estimates the desktop computer and monitor combine for about 320 watts of electricity compared with 120 watts for a laptop powered by an AC adapter.

Based on an eight-hour workday and 20 work days in a month, the desktop/monitor combine for 49.6 kilowatt-hours or a cost of $1.84 to operate. In contrast, a laptop would consume about 19.2 kilowatt-hours per month, for a cost of 71 cents to operate.

Both comparisons use ITD’s kilowatt-hour commercial energy rate of 3.7 cents.

In other words, a laptop potentially could create monthly savings of $1.13 per user.

McPherson’s analysis does not consider advantages or disadvantages of one system compared with the other, just the energy required to power them.

  • Desktop: 320 total watts/1000 X 160 hours per month = 49.6 kilowatt-hours per month
    49.6 X 037 (3.7 cents per KWh) = $1.84 per month
  • Laptop: 120 total watts/1000 X 160 hours per month = 192 kilowatt-hours/month
    192 X .037 (3.7 cents per KWh) - $0.71 per month

Published 3-7-8