1 Watt
Posted by duncan, 775 days ago
Link: http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/standby... 
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Over the last few months, especially over here in the UK, the rise of green issues has been impressive. To a large degree, though, green issues are being used somewhat freely. They've almost become a pleasantry, something else for our politicians to pay lip-service to. If big business or politics doesn't have a green policy, it's increasing becoming ostracised from the mainstream.
Against this backdrop, then, it's nice to find that there are still some issues in which sustainable issues are being agressively targetted. Rather than accept the platitudes of an appeasing green trend, the 1 Watt campaign shows us how green issues should look in the future.
The 1 Watt campaign takes the now commonplace 'Energy Star' ratings a step further. Currently, the Energy Star ratings are variable and can be awarded to devices that consume between 3W and 175W:
"Energy Star program allows TVs to use 3W in standby, while PCs can draw up to 30W and color copiers can burn through up to 175W in low power mode and still get the coveted 'star' sticker."
Importantly, there are some significatn successes already. The US government, for example, has accepted 1-Watt as part of its procurement procedure, and this will clearly have a knock-on effect. Since it seems that consumer goods, particularly entertainment goods, have a bad reputation for consuming power in standby mode, perhaps we need to extend the EU Energy Rating scheme beyond just household appliances like fridge-freezers and washing machines.
Pushing for an aggressive 1 Watt target is a smart way to keep green issues from being co-opted and keeps manufacturers aware of the public desire for low-energy, low-cost devices. In the home, many items like set-top boxes use their standby periods to update their software or tv guides. Even the new Nintendo Wii is actually designed to stay on permanently, allowing it to self-update and make the most of your wireless connection, if available. With devices like these coming on the market with more regularity, it's good that the 1 Watt campaign is pushing the agenda for power-friendly devices.
In terms of what you can do at home, put devices that 'sleep' onto a power strip and turn that off each night. Or invest in a smart power strip, that monitors power from one master outlet and shuts down power to the slave outlets when required.
The intelliplug, for example, is designed to work with computers that require power to a lot of peripharel devices, daisy-chaining their power requirements into one:
"Turn the desktop computer on, and the OneClick product instantly switches power to the peripherals (monitor, scanner, printer, games console, speakers, lights) etc. Switch it off, and it turns them all off - with just one click. The OneClick product takes care of everything, automatically."
For those of us with complicated hifi or computer setups, the intelliplug looks like a great way to cut overnight power usage in the home. If you're in the US, why not try out a Smart Power Strip:
"The Smart Strip Power Strip features advanced circuitry that not only offers excellent power surge protection and line noise filtering, but is actually able to 'sense' the flow of electrical current through the strip's control outlet. Because of this unique ability, the Smart Strip can turn off selected equipment when its not in use -- creating benefit that no other power strip on the market today can offer."
Failing that, why not try these 1 Watt lightbulbs?
Whilst the 1 Watt campaign looks to be making headway, it's good to know that there are still ways in which individuals can do something about the problem of standy power usage. Until, that is, the Google invested Nanosolar products become an affordable way to put a solar panel on every building.
Has anyone else got a good power-saving tip for the home? Why not join up and tell us more?
Over the last few months, especially over here in the UK, the rise of green issues has been impressive. To a large degree, though, green issues are being used somewhat freely. They've almost become a pleasantry, something else for our politicians to pay lip-service to. If big business or politics doesn't have a green policy, it's increasing becoming ostracised from the mainstream.
Against this backdrop, then, it's nice to find that there are still some issues in which sustainable issues are being agressively targetted. Rather than accept the platitudes of an appeasing green trend, the 1 Watt campaign shows us how green issues should look in the future.
The 1 Watt campaign takes the now commonplace 'Energy Star' ratings a step further. Currently, the Energy Star ratings are variable and can be awarded to devices that consume between 3W and 175W:
"Energy Star program allows TVs to use 3W in standby, while PCs can draw up to 30W and color copiers can burn through up to 175W in low power mode and still get the coveted 'star' sticker."
Importantly, there are some significatn successes already. The US government, for example, has accepted 1-Watt as part of its procurement procedure, and this will clearly have a knock-on effect. Since it seems that consumer goods, particularly entertainment goods, have a bad reputation for consuming power in standby mode, perhaps we need to extend the EU Energy Rating scheme beyond just household appliances like fridge-freezers and washing machines.
Pushing for an aggressive 1 Watt target is a smart way to keep green issues from being co-opted and keeps manufacturers aware of the public desire for low-energy, low-cost devices. In the home, many items like set-top boxes use their standby periods to update their software or tv guides. Even the new Nintendo Wii is actually designed to stay on permanently, allowing it to self-update and make the most of your wireless connection, if available. With devices like these coming on the market with more regularity, it's good that the 1 Watt campaign is pushing the agenda for power-friendly devices.
In terms of what you can do at home, put devices that 'sleep' onto a power strip and turn that off each night. Or invest in a smart power strip, that monitors power from one master outlet and shuts down power to the slave outlets when required.
The intelliplug, for example, is designed to work with computers that require power to a lot of peripharel devices, daisy-chaining their power requirements into one:
"Turn the desktop computer on, and the OneClick product instantly switches power to the peripherals (monitor, scanner, printer, games console, speakers, lights) etc. Switch it off, and it turns them all off - with just one click. The OneClick product takes care of everything, automatically."
For those of us with complicated hifi or computer setups, the intelliplug looks like a great way to cut overnight power usage in the home. If you're in the US, why not try out a Smart Power Strip:
"The Smart Strip Power Strip features advanced circuitry that not only offers excellent power surge protection and line noise filtering, but is actually able to 'sense' the flow of electrical current through the strip's control outlet. Because of this unique ability, the Smart Strip can turn off selected equipment when its not in use -- creating benefit that no other power strip on the market today can offer."
Failing that, why not try these 1 Watt lightbulbs?
Whilst the 1 Watt campaign looks to be making headway, it's good to know that there are still ways in which individuals can do something about the problem of standy power usage. Until, that is, the Google invested Nanosolar products become an affordable way to put a solar panel on every building.
Has anyone else got a good power-saving tip for the home? Why not join up and tell us more?
http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/standby...
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