Intel® vPro™ Technology

Power Efficiency and Sustainable Information Technology

Introduction

IT professionals in many businesses have become more aware of the cost of energy consumption. Energy consumption in data centers has long been a concern [1], but more recently, IT managers have realized that the enormous installed base of client personal computers (PCs) offers at least as much opportunity for energy savings as data centers [2]. Since IT organizations are being held more accountable than they have in the past for energy consumption within enterprises [3, 4], IT professionals need methods and tools to monitor and control energy consumption.

According to a 2002 study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory [5], typical PCs can save .064 kW in a sleep state, versus running in idle mode. A 17-inch LCD display can save .033 kW in a sleep state. Using a United States Department of Energy estimate of $.0931 per kWh [6], a company can save $.009 per hour of sleep time for a PC and display together (.097 kW multiplied by $.0931). If a PC remains in a sleep state for 14 hours per work day (this assumes a 10-hour work day for the PC) and 48 hours per weekend, a savings of $55.22 annually per PC can be realized. Across an installed base of thousands, such a savings can be substantial.

Many factors drive increased interest in managing client PC energy consumption, such as cost savings and environmental concerns. However, there are also factors that work against the management of energy consumption, such as perceived additional system management overhead and lack of reward for saving energy.

Intel has many activities in the energy-efficiency domain, including producing increasingly energy-efficient products, collaborating with governments and industry workgroups on energy-efficient products, and active programs across our manufacturing facilities to reduce the impact on the environment. Intel® vPro™ technology for business PCs can play a key role in managing business client PC energy consumption as its specific features allow IT professionals to address energy efficiency.

In this article we look at the findings from a study of IT professionals who were asked how they would like to manage client PC energy consumption, what would motivate them to manage it more efficiently, and what tools would they need to do the job. We then show how Intel vPro technology can be used in businesses to help manage client PC energy consumption, and finally we look at case studies on reduced energy consumption as a result of the implementation of Intel vPro technology.

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