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160
150 Watts
140 PART I
120
PART I
PART I
100
80
60
40
15 Watts
20
0

Thin client
Conventional PC
Watts used-PC versus Thin Client

NOTE We talk more about thin clients in Chapter 8.
Power
Let’s look at the numbers. Buying computers and then disposing of them is a one-time issue—
you pick out the computers, you buy them, and you’re done. When it’s time to get rid of the
computers, you find a responsible recycler, you hand them over, and you’re done. But the
issue of power consumption is ongoing. In fact, you’ll be reminded of it every month when
the electrical bill shows up.

NOTE Actually, your facilities manager will be reminded of it. Unless he or she shares the electrical
bill with you each month, you may live blissfully unaware of how much electricity you use.

The issue of power consumption is important on two levels. First, consider your bottom
line. The more power you use, the more money you spend. Next, consider the issue on an
environmental level. The more power you use, the more fossil fuels the local electrical utility
has to burn, thus causing more greenhouse gases to be generated.
Desktops
Power can be managed easily enough throughout your user base, just be sure to enable power
management settings.
Consider this: An average desktop PC requires 85 watts just to idle, even with the
monitor off. If that computer is only in use or idling for 40 hours a week instead of a full
168, over US$40 in energy costs will be saved annually from that workstation alone. Think
about the savings that can be recognized if those savings are multiplied by thousands of
computers across your organization.