Technology services provider Probrand is urging businesses to assess the energy efficiency of their IT equipment as a priority to help curtail rising bills. With the UK facing an energy crisis, Probrand has been highlighting the ways technology could be adding costs and where savings can be made.
Removing dust from fans and vents allows servers to maintain optimal working temperatures, meaning they won’t have to use as much energy to cool down. Similarly, staff working on old desktop PCs may consider upgrading to laptops, which typically consume 50% less power than PC equivalents.
Richard Nelson, senior technical consultant at Probrand, said: “Despite the recent government cap on energy prices, costs still remain at record levels, with many business owners concerned about utility bills for their offices this winter.
“There are a number of simple steps that you can put in place to ensure that any IT equipment is operating as efficiently as possible. Not only can businesses save money, but they can also enhance their sustainability credentials by operating in a more eco-friendly way.”
1. Upgrade monitors to LED screens
If your business has separate screens and monitors, consider upgrading them to modern LED backlit versions, which have a much lower power consumption when compared with traditional alternatives, known as CCFL styles. Old equipment can often be traded in or recycled and will result in cost savings in the long run.
2. Choose a laptop over a desktop
Modern laptops consume 50% less power than equivalent desktop PCs, meaning energy savings start from day one. If you are still using desktops, consider migrating to laptops, ensuring you only plug them in to charge as needed rather than leaving them constantly connected to the power source. Not only will this save energy, but it will also help to conserve the battery life of the device.
3. Keep routers switched on
It pays to switch off most IT equipment at the mains at the end of each working day, but this logic does not apply to internet routers. These should be plugged in and connected to a power source at all times, otherwise, your internet service provider could falsely detect an issue and reduce your internet speed as a result while they attempt to stabilise the line.
4. Clean dust and debris
All IT equipment should be carefully cleaned and maintained, as dust can cause issues if it enters devices. If you operate servers, keep the fans, vents and filters free of dust and debris so that the airflow can circulate evenly and efficiently. If fans become clogged, the servers have to work much harder to maintain optimal working temperatures, therefore using more energy.
5. Maintain an optimum temperature
Server rooms should be kept at between 20 and 22 degrees, which varies according to the size of the space and the volume of equipment within it. If air conditioning units are too small for the space and volume, they will never reach the target temperature and will therefore consume more energy as they will be running continuously. Inverter-based air conditioning solutions consume less power than older models and work well in most server rooms. You should also limit access to server rooms and keep the doors closed, helping to maintain airflow and temperature.
6. Consider going virtual
Physical servers could be virtualised onto more modern and power-efficient platforms, depending on your business needs. You could also consider using resource schedulers with virtual and cloud environments during off-peak periods. This reduces the number of hosts required and helps to conserve power consumption.
7. Audit and decommission unused equipment
IT equipment should be audited at regular intervals to ensure you are making the most out of your devices. Any tech that isn’t in use should be decommissioned and powered down so that it is not using energy unnecessarily. You may also be able to repurpose or trade-in devices for new ones. Make sure you maintain equipment that is in use to ensure it is operating at its best, prolonging the life of your technology and therefore reducing long-term spending.
See how Probrand can help
If your business can benefit from upgrading its technology, get in touch with our experts at Probrand today to upgrade your hardware and software, or to learn more about how updating your IT equipment can benefit your business.