Market Barriers:
The annual national energy use of computers and their associated monitors is approximately 85 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, or approximately 2.8 percent of total U.S. electricity use. The Northwest was wasting nearly 8.5 million kWh each year in power from energy lost from computers’ inefficient power supplies.
In 2004, while many of the market’s desktop computers and servers qualified for the EPA’s ENERGY STAR® label, the power supplies for these devices were still inefficient. Manufacturers were capable of making more energy-efficient power supplies, but they hadn’t done so; they viewed power supplies as a commodity and instead responded primarily to customer demand for higher computer performance, lower prices and new features.
NEEA Action:
In 2004, NEEA was the first to identify the problem in the region, then the first in the nation to sponsor 80 PLUS -- a program that aims to improve PC power supply efficiency by providing incentives to computer manufacturers and system integrators. To qualify for 80 PLUS, power supplies must have 80 percent or higher efficiency; most power supplies operate at 60 percent with 40 percent of the energy lost. The program has the potential to save the Northwest 8.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually -- enough to power nearly 700 homes.
With the support and influence of its utility partners, NEEA worked to convince manufacturers of the market benefits of producing computers with energy-efficient power supplies and provided funding to them to help defray the costs of making the change. Subsequently, NEEA partnered with manufacturers, such as SeaSonic, to offer a commercial rebate on 80 PLUS certified products. By 2006, the program was signing up major manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard and had worked with nearly 60 industry players.
Regional Impact:
In 2007, the program gained significant momentum when EPA adopted 80 PLUS criteria as part of its new ENERGY STAR specification for desktop and laptop computers—a spec that includes new energy use guidelines for operating, standby and sleep modes. Following this change, more manufacturers jumped on board and by 2008, more than 60 manufacturers offered more than 200 80 PLUS qualified power supply models. Each year, 80 PLUS can save 85 kWh per desktop computer and 300 kWh for each server. 80 PLUS has the potential to save the region 8.5 million kWh annually -- enough to power 700 homes.
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Market Barriers
- Power supplies wasting 8.5 million kWh per year
- ENERGY STAR spec did not include power supplies
- Efficient power supplies not a manufacturer priority
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Regional Results
- First in U.S. to sponsor 80 PLUS
- Potential to save region 8.5 million kWh per year
- Saves 85 kWh per desktop PC each year
- 80 PLUS added to ENERGY STAR desktop PC spec in 2007
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