Step 11: Cut your IT energy costs

These days, we’re using far more computers, tablets and smartphones. As a result, the amount of energy being used by information technology (IT) equipment has increased as well.

The amount of money SMEs spend on IT equipment and energy costs can easily be reduced. One simple way to get started is to ask if equipment is being left on unnecessarily and to make sure it’s turned off at the power point at the end of the working day. Only critical equipment should be left on, such as servers and backup drives.

Turning off IT equipment, however, is not the only way to save money. This section will show the other options available to you.

Money Saving Tips

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Switch it off!

19/06/2014

Switch it off! Most people leave their WiFi on all the time. They also fail to use the energy-saving options on their IT equipment. To ensure that your computers, monitors, laptops and printers are drawing zero power when they’re not being used, turn them off at the power point at the end of the working day. […]
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Busting the ‘leave-it-on’ myth

19/06/2014

Busting the ‘leave-it-on’ myth Some people mistakenly believe that leaving machines on saves more power than switching them off and on again. This is not the case. Apart from devices that need to be on, like fax machines, photocopiers and computer servers, most other machines that are unlikely to be used within the half hour, […]
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Manage your monitors

19/06/2014

Manage your monitors Screen savers Another IT myth is that screen savers save energy. Not true! Generally speaking, screen savers do not save energy and might prevent your computer from entering sleep mode.[1] To save money, you should disable all the screen savers on your computers. Displays In the power settings, many computers now […]
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Put computers to sleep during the workday

19/06/2014

Put computers to sleep during the workday If you use a desktop computer and monitor for eight hours a day during the week, it can cost up to $125 in electricity every year.[1] If you leave your computer fully on at the end of the working day, the cost can be significantly more. Multiply this […]
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Keep your equipment cool

19/06/2014

Keep your equipment cool IT equipment can get hot. That’s why some IT equipment contains fans. These fans, however, can use a significant amount of power. It therefore makes financial sense to ensure that your IT gear is not left in unventilated cupboards or next to other heat-producing machines. You should also make sure that […]
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Save money on printing costs

19/06/2014

Save money on printing costs When you’re writing a document or creating an invoice, your computer is already on. So if you can email a PDF instead of printing the document, you will save energy by not having your printer on. Going paperless in this way saves on printer energy costs, paper costs, postage costs […]

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Software downloads that can save you money

19/06/2014

Software downloads that can save you money Saving money on IT costs has been made easier by new forms of software, some of which are available for free. Cloud computing ‘Cloud computing’ allows SMEs to save money by cutting costs in many different areas. Off-site storage means you don’t have to have a server running […]
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Think before you buy

19/06/2014

Think before you buy Sometimes the most business-friendly purchase is not to purchase in the first place! When it comes to buying new equipment, buy only what you really need. It’s the first step to saving money. Consider good-quality second-hand or just-superseded equipment. Last year’s top-of-the-range model from a respected brand, might be more energy […]
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Buy laptops and save money on energy use

19/06/2014

Buy laptops and save money on energy use Many small business owners own a desktop computer at work and one at home. To save money, it’s best to switch to a single laptop. You don’t just save on purchase costs. When you use a laptop computer instead of a desktop and monitor, you can reduce your […]
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Buy energy efficient monitors

19/06/2014

Buy energy efficient monitors What type of screen? When it comes to upgrading your monitors, it’s worth remembering that: LED flat screens consume less energy than LCD screens. Energy-efficient LED and LCD monitors can use up to 50% less energy than a CRT monitor.[1] You can now buy portable lightweight computer monitors that are powered by […]
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Investigate the computer server option

19/06/2014

Investigate the computer server option Some companies do not use standard computers. Instead, their workers use stripped-down, low-power PCs that are linked to a central server that handles all the data processing and storage. If your business hosts a computer server like this, it can use a lot of energy and generate a lot of […]
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Further IT information

19/06/2014

Further IT information To keep up with the latest developments in efficient IT, check out ICT Sustain Review at: EnergyCut.info/ict-sustain

Step 11: Cut your IT energy costs

These days, we’re using far more computers, tablets and smartphones. As a result, the amount of energy being used by information technology (IT) equipment has increased as well.

Turning off IT equipment, however, is not the only way to save money. This section will show the other options available to you.

Money Saving Tips

NO COST / LOW COST

INVEST & SAVE

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