"Plug load? Seriously? With all the things that I need to do in my facilities you want me to worry about managing plug load power use? It can’t be that big a deal."
Studies from many countries consistently show that “miscellaneous” load is a quarter to a third of power consumption in office buildings, and it keeps growing as facilities become “smarter”. When HVAC and lighting get more efficient, plug load can be 50% or more of energy use. Recent research from UC-San Diego shows that IT equipment accounts for more than 70% of electrical base load in “mixed-use” campus buildings that have server rooms. http://www.solaripedia.com/files/753.pdf Managing plug load power use is a big deal, and gets bigger as we put more electronic equipment into every type of building.
Graphic source: http://www.legrand.us/wiremold-pages/wiremold-white-papers/plugload.aspx
"So, what should I do?"
1. Managing plug load is challenging, but essential … baseline
measurement and analysis of the plug load.
You have to know what equipment is in a building, who is responsible for
it, and what its power consumption characteristics are.
2. Kill the Zombies. In every building there is unused and unnecessary
equipment … servers, printers, fax machines, copiers, UPS’s … that are using electricity
but not doing anything. Clean house and get rid of unused equipment.
Next,
you need a power management plan to turn off or turn down electronic equipment
when idle. Desktop PC power management software can produce big returns. Energy
Star power down settings need to be turned on and kept on for all equipment.
Smart power strips or sensors can turn off peripheral devices and AC/DC
converters. Even servers can be managed for variable power use. If your utility offers it, take advantage of PG&E’s
subsidy programs that will fund plug load power management technologies.
Finally,
get smart about what you buy. Work with IT and Purchasing departments to design,
specify and buy energy efficient equipment and systems. The EPA now has Energy
Star labels for not only office equipment and appliances, PC’s, and
monitors, but for UPS’s, servers, and data storage systems as well.
Energy
Star is good as minimum standard, but with a little more effort your facilities
can significantly reduce plug load power use, and your energy bills. A well
thought-out plan for addressing “miscellaneous” energy use belongs on your
to-do list for 2012.
Richard
Hodges, www.GreenIT.net
IFMA-SF
Sustainability Chair
