3 ms·

Roughly 260 kWh for 1 year of 30w on all the time (30 x 24 x 365 /1000). That assumes the media server is using 30w all the time. Probably half or a quarter of

Roughly 260 kWh for 1 year of 30w on all the time (30 x 24 x 365 /1000). That assumes the media server is using 30w all the time. Probably half or a quarter of that (based on no data). Call it 100kWh. My electric hotplate takes 3kW used for around 10 min a day for moka pot roughly 180kWh (3/6 * 365). So not tiny but not huge either. I might try to estimate the on/off cycle time of the fridge. I suspect that the kWh figure will be large!

Osmium 12y ago
Thanks for running the numbers. The important question is how many personal computers are currently switched on at this exact moment? What's a small improvement to one person can make a huge difference nationally. Just because there are other devices that use yet more energy still (e.g. kettles, fridges, vacuum cleaners, etc.) doesn't mean there shouldn't be a drive for increased efficiency in all our electric devices where possible (in my personal opinion).
- jarek 12y ago
  > The important question is how many personal computers are currently switched on at this exact moment? Less than the fridges switched on. Here's a standard fridge Walmart sells for $449: http://www.danby.com/en/US/our_products/refrigeration/dff100a2bsldb http://www.danby.com/en/US/our_products/refrigeration/dff100... The EnergyGuide says it's estimated for 375.6 kWh yearly. That's an average of 42.9 W, including the times it's plugged in but idle. Then keep in mind that a "30 W" computer will use much less than that in idle, where it'll be for 90+% of the time. Including auto-sleep, which Macs are good at, you'll be well below 10 W on average. > doesn't mean there shouldn't be a drive for increased efficiency in all our electric devices where possible (in my personal opinion). Absolutely, but replacing one energy-efficient sub-30 W CPU with another slightly more efficient CPU won't do huge things to the country's energy bill.

Osmium 12y ago

Thanks for running the numbers. The important question is how many personal computers are currently switched on at this exact moment? What's a small improvement to one person can make a huge difference nationally. Just because there are other devices that use yet more energy still (e.g. kettles, fridges, vacuum cleaners, etc.) doesn't mean there shouldn't be a drive for increased efficiency in all our electric devices where possible (in my personal opinion).

jarek 12y ago
> The important question is how many personal computers are currently switched on at this exact moment? Less than the fridges switched on. Here's a standard fridge Walmart sells for $449: http://www.danby.com/en/US/our_products/refrigeration/dff100a2bsldb http://www.danby.com/en/US/our_products/refrigeration/dff100... The EnergyGuide says it's estimated for 375.6 kWh yearly. That's an average of 42.9 W, including the times it's plugged in but idle. Then keep in mind that a "30 W" computer will use much less than that in idle, where it'll be for 90+% of the time. Including auto-sleep, which Macs are good at, you'll be well below 10 W on average. > doesn't mean there shouldn't be a drive for increased efficiency in all our electric devices where possible (in my personal opinion). Absolutely, but replacing one energy-efficient sub-30 W CPU with another slightly more efficient CPU won't do huge things to the country's energy bill.