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80 PLUS Program Pushes Market to Improve Computer Energy Efficiency by Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Environmental News Network, November 21, 2006

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Hewlitt Packard (HP) - the world's largest PC vendor - will offer customers an 80 PLUS certified power supply option on its 7000 and 5000 Series of business PCs as early as January 2007. The 80 PLUS Program certifies power supplies in computers that, on average, use 15 percent to 25 percent less electricity than typical computers.

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), Portland, Ore., funded the 80 PLUS® Program in 2004 to encourage computer manufacturers to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of their machines by installing highly efficient power supplies - the devices that convert alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC).

NEEA was the first of 12 utility organizations in the U.S. and Canada to sponsor the Program.

"The 80 PLUS® effort clearly demonstrates that electric utilities and market transformation organizations can have a profound effect on the market place," said Jon Thomsen, program director for Ecos Consulting, Portland, Ore., the company that manages the 80 PLUS® Program.

Nearly all desktop computers and desktop-derived servers can take advantage of more efficient drop-in power supplies to cost-effectively cut energy consumption without costly, time-consuming redesigns of the entire computer.

"The 80 PLUS Program® intrigued us," said Margaret Gardner, NEEA executive director. "The initiative addressed power consumption when the computer is actually in use, not just in 'sleep' or 'standby' mode, the traditional targets to gain energy savings in consumer and office electronics."

"We are pleased to be the first major computer manufacturer to support the 80 PLUS Program," said Jeff Groudan, vice president of Business PC Marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP. "It is part of our commitment to offering customers a variety of affordable, energy-efficient desk-based products to help reduce their total cost of technology ownership."

Consumers gain considerable benefits from 80 PLUS® certified power supplies:

• Utility bill savings over the life of the computer are typically $25 to $30 for desktop computers running eight hours a day, five days a week and more than $100 for desktop-derived servers.
• The reduced heat output and improvements in power quality can increase the overall computer reliability by up to 40 percent.
• Reduced heat output also decreases a building's cooling demand-another important tactic in addressing peak power demands.
• Power factor correction reduces the cost of providing electrical service and helps to minimize interference and losses in the wiring within a building, an important benefit for utilities and large commercial and institutional customers.