Fast and Easy Solutions for Cutting Standby Losses

Fast and easy solutions for cutting standby losses

Åke Blomsterberg WSP Environmental, Sweden [email protected]

Diana Avasoo WSP Environmental, Sweden [email protected]

Keywords Introduction electricity, electrical and electronic equipment, standby losses, An important part of the energy use in the building sector is standby stoppers, standby power related to residential and offi ce buildings in Europe. Th e potential for energy savings and improvements in indoor climate is oft en high. Many modern buildings, especially offi ce buildings, Abstract may have a lower energy use for heating, but they have, on the A recent European study estimated that the current electricity other hand, oft en a higher use of electricity than older build- consumption due to standby and off -mode losses in the Europe- ings, which is due to a higher energy use for ventilation, cool- an Community is 47 TWh and that the energy saving potential ing, lighting, household, consumer and offi ce equipment. Th e from cutting these losses in offi ces and households is 35 TWh use of electricity has also increased in older buildings, mainly or 75% (in 2020) and 14 million tonnes of CO saved. 2 due to the increased amount and use of electrical and electronic However, the estimated standby savings are based on ex- equipment. Th e total energy use of a typical offi ce building can pected reductions in standby losses of future electrical and be 220 kWh/m2year (example from Sweden). Half of the total electronic household and offi ce equipment. Th e consequences energy use is electricity i.e. 108 kWh/m2year for lighting, serv- of waiting for all appliances to be replaced by new ones are a ers, PCs, other offi ce equipment, cooling, fans, pumps, elevators lot of wasted energy and unnecessary CO emissions. Th ere 2 etc. 57 kWh/m2year is work related, of which 23 kWh/m2year is will be a gradual improvement starting in 2010 thanks to the lighting and 34 kWh/m2year is offi ce equipment. European ecodesign requirements on new products for standby Th e energy use in Swedish offi ces is based on a study in losses below one watt, which will limit the losses. Standby and 123 offi ce buildings of diff erent age (Th e Swedish energy agen- off -mode power consumption will still for some years be an cy, 2007). Th ere is of course quite a variation in use of electricity increasing fraction of the total energy use. Th ere are two rea- from offi ce to offi ce. Th e average use of electricity for PCs is sons, the increased use of electrical and electronic equipment 15.4 kWh/m2year. Th ese variations are caused by diff erences in households and in places of work, and at the same time the in number of units per m2, performance of the units, the use of standby power consumption in most electrical and electronic the units etc. Th e use of the units is infl uenced by behavioural devices is today still above one watt. Th e standby losses must aspects, which are defi ned on three diff erent levels: be reduced or even eliminated now. Quick and inexpensive measures are then awareness campaigns and implementation • Offi ce worker e.g. PCs, task and general lighting, battery of standby stoppers. chargers. • Department e.g. printers, copy machines.

• Company e.g. general lighting, servers.

ECEEE 2009 SUMMER STUDY • ACT! INNOVATE! DELIVER! REDUCING ENERGY DEMAND SUSTAINABLY 1513 Table 1. Maximum power levels for standby of electrical and electronic household and ofﬁ ce equipment in the EU according to the ecodesign directive.

Year of implementation 2010 2013 Off mode and Standby – reactivation 1 W 0,5 W function Standby – information or status display 2 W 1 W

Many studies point out the substantial electricity savings po- up by the International Energy Agency in their “1-watt Plan” tential for lighting and offi ce equipment. Th ese savings are very of April 2007. Th ese eff orts have contributed to the fact that important for the overall aim of reducing the carbon dioxide e.g. PCs with lower standby losses are available. However, elec- emissions. tricity use in standby mode appears to have increased over the Especially regarding offi ce equipment, there is a substantial past few years (Nipkow 2007), therefore fast and easy measures energy savings potential both during offi ce hours with better are needed now. equipment and during non-offi ce hours by lowering the stand- A preparatory study carried out for the Commission of the by losses (Jagemar 2004, Persson 2005). In three Swedish offi ce European Communities estimated that 3.7 billion installed buildings the usage of electricity for offi ce equipment varied products had standby/off mode in 2005, leading to electricity between 0.5 W/m2 during night and 3 W/m2 during day for consumption in standby/off mode of 47 TWh in the 25 mem- one of the offi ce buildings and between 4 W/m2 and 8 W/m2 for ber countries of the EU corresponding to 19 Mt of CO2 emis- the two other offi ce buildings. In the fi rst offi ce the offi ce equip- sions (EC press release 2008a, EC regulation 2008a). Assuming ment was shut off during night. Th e use of electricity for servers typical product lifetimes and usage times, the installed equip- and their cooling is oft en high 24 hours a day (Jensen 2003). ment featuring standby mode and off mode will increase to ap- Th e use of electricity for operating PCs varies. Useful in- prox. 4.6 billion products in 2020. Th e electricity consumption formation can be found from the EnergyStar rating system. A in standby/off mode is expected to stand at around 49 TWh typical stationary PC might use 100 W in operation, while the per year in 2020 (an amount comparable to the total electricity screen uses 30 W. A laptop uses of course much less e.g. 25 W consumption of Greece or Portugal). (Persson 2005). Th e electricity saving potential is estimated to 35 TWh According to the ‘Energy effi cient behaviour in offi ce build- by 2020 and this scenario is based on maximum power levels ings’ (EBOB) project (EBOB 2005) commonly the following is for new equipment (see table 1). In December 2009 the Di- valid for the use of computers in offi ce buildings: rective 2005/32/EC was implemented with regard to ecodesign requirements for standby and off mode electricity power • Many computers are oft en unnecessarily left running all the consumption of electrical and electronic household and offi ce time. equipment (see table 1) (EC regulation 2008b), • Energy saving features on computers are rarely used to their Th e above study has not taken into account the energy sav- full potential. ing potential with lowered cooling demand. It is possible that the cooling demand in many working spaces can be lowered Th e main barriers for reducing the use of electricity for offi ce if the leaking energy from electrical and electronic equipment equipment are: is reduced. • Th e lack of fi nancial incentive, as oft en the use of electricity A list of products covered by the power limits is presented in is included in the rent, while the tenants pay for the offi ce the regulations (EC regulation 2008a). Th e list covers many of equipment. If the tenants pay the use of electricity for offi ce the existing items. However new items are likely to appear on equipment, then typically the landlord pays for the invest- the market. Very little is known about future product develop- ment cost for the installed lighting. ment and it cannot be imagined today what other new electricity consuming devices will become popular. Who knew about • Th e lack of knowledge among tenants and property manag- Ipods ten years ago? As an example, many of the offi ce desks ers regarding the use of electricity for offi ce equipment. sold in Sweden are manoeuvred by an electric motor so you • Th e lack of knowledge of offi ce worker infl uence on the use can raise them and stand while working or lower them at your of electricity for offi ce equipment. convenience. Th ese desks are always in standby mode. Another increasingly sold item is the tilt-bed also with an electric motor • Th e lack of energy effi cient servers and energy effi cient op- in standby mode. eration of the servers. Th is paper presents some recent studies on standby losses Most offi ce equipment consumes some electric power when it and existing and new technologies that can easily and quickly is switched off (off -mode i.e. not providing any function, only be adopted by households, offi ces and in all spaces with electri- providing an indication of off -mode) or is not performing its cal and electronic equipment. primary purpose (standby i.e. reactivation function and information or status display). Th erefore a global eff ort to reduce leaking electricity was initiated in 1998 (Meier 1999). Th e target was standby losses of less than 1 W. Th is initiative was taken

1514 ECEEE 2009 SUMMER STUDY • ACT! INNOVATE! DELIVER! REDUCING ENERGY DEMAND SUSTAINABLY Table 2. Standby statistics Switzerland (Nipkow 2007). Equipment Power use, switched off, W Standby, W PC 2.5 30 Screen 2 4 Fax 4 Printer, basic 2.5 5 Small copy machine 2.5 5 Medium copy machine 2.5 80 Scanner 2.5 Beamer, portable 0 Combined copy machine and printer, small 2.5 Combined copy machine and printer, medium 5 50 Charger 1 TV 4 Set top boxes, simple 10 Video/DVD recorder 5 Hifi equipment 8 Radio or MP3 alarm 3 Coffee machine 2.5 30 Micro wave oven 2.5 Dishwasher 2 Washing machine 2.5 Clothes dryer/tumbler 2

Recent studies on standby losses • How does the electrical and electronic equipment look in Several recent studies on standby losses have been carried out. diff erent households split into individual homes and in Th ree of them are presented here. multi-dwelling buildings? One study was carried out in Switzerland (Nipkow 2007). A • How effi cient are the diff erent products? summary was made of measured standby losses for electrical and electronic equipment in Switzerland (see table 2). • How is the user behaviour in diff erent households? Th ere is a wide variation of the use of electricity of diff er- Preliminary results show that the total electricity consumption ent products. One example is that for nine diff erent combined is 5100 kWh/year for those who live in one-family houses and printers and copy machines it was shown that they have stand- 3000 kWh/year for those who live in multi-family dwellings. by losses around 100 W, with the exception of one brand (50- Twenty-four per cent is directly identifi ed as electricity for elec- 60 W). Th ese machines have an ‘eco mode’ with substantially tronic entertainment devices and 7% from unidentifi ed or un- lower standby losses (4-18 W), but they need a long time get measured sources. Th e average standby power for households back to active level. Such appliances are more and more oft en with families was shown to be 116 W. connected to the internet through networks and thereby show In one house, a halogen up-light lamp consumed 50% of the long starting times, so that in practice they are seldom shut total lighting electricity. off . Another interesting but also worrying identifi ed energy con- Another interesting example of offi ce equipment is the suming behaviour was that in many households the television beamer (PC projector). Th e standby losses from permanently set was on all day and night and very short time in standby installed beamers vary between 8 and 10 W in one study, an- mode. Th erefore, even if future electrical and electronic equip- other study shows 2 to 17 W. Luckily many beamers are port- ment will have a very low standby mode, the electricity saving able, which should mean that they oft en are not connected will still depend on consumer behaviour. If consumers do not to the power supply system (Nipkow 2007). Th e same study switch off their television sets while they are not in the room, concludes that current priority areas should be consumer elec- then low standby power is of no use. We know from other ener- tronic equipment, PC workstations and coff ee machines. gy saving programs that it is very diffi cult to change consumer Another study was carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute behaviour and especially if the consumer is a child. Th erefore, for Reliability and Microintegration (Nissen 2007). Included other, more intelligent solutions are required. in the technical analysis of existing products was a range of Th ere is obviously a wide range of electrical and electronic products (see table 3). equipment used in offi ce and homes, and the number is in- Th e two studies agree on most levels of standby losses creasing. All of them have standby losses. Th e standby power i.e. yield the same order of magnitude. However, there is a disa- consumption for most electrical and electronic devices is still greement as to PCs and printers. above one watt. Th e individual standby or off -mode losses may Th e outcome of a Swedish study in 400 households will cover seem low, but a lot of this equipment is left in standby mode the following questions (Swedish Energy Agency 2008): for many hours.

ECEEE 2009 SUMMER STUDY • ACT! INNOVATE! DELIVER! REDUCING ENERGY DEMAND SUSTAINABLY 1515 Table 3. Standby statistics (Nissen 2007).

Product Year of Active Standby, W Passive Off-mode, data standby, standby, no-load W W Mobile phone 2006 1.2 0.3 Low voltage halogen lamps, magnetic 2006 4.0 Low voltage halogen lamps, electronic 2006 0.2 Stand-alone radios 2005 1.5 Rechargeabel electric toothbrush 2005 1.5 1.4 Oven 2004 3.0 Cordless phone 2005 3.3 2.4 TV, cathode ray 2004 6.0 1.5 TV, LCD 2004 3.0 2.0 TV, Plasma 2004 3.0 1.5 TV, rear-projection 2004 2.0 0.1 Set-top-boxes 2005 10.7 0.0 Washing machine 2004 5.7 1.2 DVD player/recorder 2006 4.8 1.5 Compact audio system 2004 8.0 1.5 Fax 2005 5.9 PC, notebook 2007 3.0 1.5 PC 2007 4.0 2.7 Monitor cathode ray 2007 6.3 1.5 Monitor LCD 2007 2.3 1.35 Hub 2005 5.0 Computer speakers 2004 3.6 2.5 Laser printer, home 2004 20.0 3.0 Laser printer, office 2004 50.0 2.0 Inkjetprinter 2004 6.0 3.0

Energy Saving Potential A recent European study estimated the energy saving po- Th e Swedish Energy Agency has during 2006-2008 measured tential from cutting standby losses in offi ces and households to 35 TWh or 75% (in 2020) and 14 million tonnes of CO standby energy consumption in 400 households. At the time 2 of writing, the fi nal report was not fi nished (Swedish Energy saved. (EC press release 2008b). Th is is predicted to be the Agency 2008). However, preliminary fi gures show that electric- result of the European ecodesign requirement (EC regulation ity consumption in private homes in Sweden amounts to ap- 2008b), which requires maximum power of one watt for passive proximately 80 TWh of which 19 TWh is consumed by house- standby and off -mode starting in 2010 and maximum power of hold appliances. Of this approximately up to 10% are standby 0.5 watt from 2013. losses. An interesting trend shown is that the electricity for lighting Fast, easy and inexpensive solutions for cutting has decreased and at the same time the electricity consumption standby losses for electrical and electronic equipment has increased. Further- Th ere are at least three diff erent methods of reducing stand- more, the amount of electrical and electronic equipment has by losses from electrical and electronic household and offi ce increased. For example 38% of the households have two televi- equipment: sion sets and 13% three television sets and 2% four or fi ve sets. Twenty-two per cent have two computers, 8% three or more 1. Developing and selling equipment with low standby losses; and only 9% have no computers at home. 2. Ensuring that the user switches the equipment off complete- In Sweden the standby losses are estimated to be at least ly, when not needed; 1 TWh per year (Holst 2008), which means 110 kWh per per- son. 3. Installing standby stoppers, which register standby mode Th e annual electricity consumption related to standby func- and then switches off the equipment. tionalities and off -mode losses in the European Community has been estimated to be 47 TWh in 2005, corresponding to Th e methods which will result in the fastest and most inexpen-

19 Mt CO2 emmissions (EC regulation 2008b). Without spe- sive results, are method one and two. It takes a longer time until cifi c measures, the consumption is predicted to increase to all households and places of work have equipment with low 49 TWh in 2020. As mentioned above one study states that the standby and off -mode losses, which will be the gradual result of consumption appears to have increased over the past few years the European ecodesign requirements (EC regulation 2008b). (Nipkow 2007). Th e fi rst method is already adopted by some manufacturers but also by many national governments. In Europe we have

1516 ECEEE 2009 SUMMER STUDY • ACT! INNOVATE! DELIVER! REDUCING ENERGY DEMAND SUSTAINABLY recently an Ecodesign directive, One Watt initiative and re- It can also be connected to computers and all other electronic cently a number of IEA member countries joined forces in an equipment in a working place such as monitors, scanners, international collaborative programme, 4e (www.iea-4e.org), to printers, cell phone chargers etc. Instead of a remote control, it promote wider use of more energy-effi cient electrical and elec- is monitored by the off mode of the computer. tronic equipment. Th e second method is also implemented in Another standby stopper is ‘Coxiwatt’, which is a new French many national awareness raising campaigns. However, aware- standby stopper for television sets and for computers. ness campaigns that require changes in consumer behaviour Th ere are also simpler standby stoppers based on Master/ are not always very successful. Th e challenge is to change the Slave principles. It means that the Master, that is the television behaviour of all consumers. Successful campaigns also need to set or the computer, must be in ON mode. When the Master is be repeated aft er some time, as people tend to forget. put in standby mode, then the rest of the equipment is switched Public awareness is likely to increase if energy can be visu- off but the Master stays in standby mode. Th ey have also a high alised, for example by providing consumers with an energy own consumption of approximately 5 Watts when they are con- meter. nected to the electricity supply system. An awareness campaign in an offi ce building means ad- dressing all the users i.e. offi ce workers, IT support, facility Conclusions managers. Th e aim is to improve user behaviour e.g. turning off equipment at night, enabling power management features, Th e standby losses are not only an environmental issue but also and more attention to purchasing Energy Star compliant equip- an economic issue. In Sweden, if the energy saving potential ment. Campaigns were carried out in California already ten from standby losses is approximately 1 TWh per year, and the years ago. A guide was produced (Picklum 1999). Th e guide electricity price is 0.15 Euro/kWh, then the Swedish popula- describes how to estimate plug load and savings potential, pro- tion is paying the utilities 150 million Euro for electricity they gramme design and programme elements. Similar campaigns do not need. can be carried out aimed at households, but it is a more het- Standby power consumption will still for some years be an erogeneous group. increasing fraction of the total energy use. Th ere are two rea- Th e third method is to develop and introduce standby stop- sons the use of electrical and electronic equipment is increas- ping devices that can reduce standby losses today. We cannot ing and the standby power consumption is still above one watt continue to leak electricity while waiting for new, less electricity for most products. Th ere will be a gradual improvement in the consuming equipment. European Community starting in 2010 thanks to the ecodesign Th ere are some well functioning innovations in some Euro- requirements on new products, which will limit the losses. On a pean countries but these do not seem to be widely known. Th ey worldwide basis the potential is enormous as the use of electri- are mostly called “Standby stoppers” and are very effi cient in cal and electronic equipment in the rest of the world increases lowering standby losses from existing electrical and electronic more rapidly. Consumer electronics, PC workstations and cof- equipment. Most of the equipment mentioned above can be fee machines should be prioritized. connected to a standby stopper. A typical standby stopper will Standby losses on a European level or on a global level are itself use less than 0.3 W. Several appliances can be connected substantial but too small on an individual level to become inter- to the same standby stopper. Th ere are standby stoppers for: esting. Th erefore, it is urgent to introduce effi cient instruments as quickly as possible for reduction of standby losses and to • TV and audio equipment carry out further research in this area. Some programs are al- • PCs with accessories ready there e.g. the European ecodesign requirements. Howev- er, more is needed to accelerate the reduction of standby losses • Copy machines because the ecodesign requirements only govern new equip- • Projectors ment and are thus constrained by the rate at which equipment is replaced. • Coff ee machines Voluntary agreements and technology procurement are oft en A Swiss innovation, when connected to electrical and electronic successful. As far as standby losses are concerned, we believe devices, measures when the equipment is in standby mode and that other measures such as awareness campaigns and intro- switches all electricity off . Only 0.1 watts is consumed, enough duction of standby stoppers are quicker. Technology develop- to send a “Start” signal via the remote control of the televi- ment is of course still very much needed and urgent. sion set. Every time you switch off your television set by using Australian governments have recently adopted a one-watt the remote control, all devices connected to ‘ECOMAN’ as it standby target for all products and the International Energy is known, such as DVDs, play stations, halogen lamps, satellite Agency a “1-watt Plan”. Consequently, policies are designed to receivers and television sets, will be completely switched off . ensure that the maximum standby power consumption of all When you want to start your television or any other equip- appliances manufactured in or imported into Australia is one ment, the ON button of the remote control simply needs to be watt. Th is statement of principle sends a clear message to in- pressed. Th is means that it is enough to switch off the televi- dustry and provides coherence to a diverse range of policies de- sion in a comfortable way and at the same time turn off other signed to combat standby power consumption. Th e European equipment too. Another advantage, or ‘incentive’ for using it, is parliament has introduced similar requirements, which will be that the devices are also protected from damage caused by over- implemented in 2010. However it will take many years before voltage. Up to 2300 watts can be connected to this small device. all electrical and electronic household and offi ce equipment is replaced. So why wait, when awareness campaigns and standby

ECEEE 2009 SUMMER STUDY • ACT! INNOVATE! DELIVER! REDUCING ENERGY DEMAND SUSTAINABLY 1517 stoppers will result in faster, easier and more inexpensive ways ern offi ce buildings. CIT Energy Management, Sweden of cutting standby and off -mode losses. (in Swedish). Jensen, S.Ö., (2003), Cooling of server rooms. Danish Tech- nological Institute, Danmark (in Danish). References Meier, A., (1999), One Watt Initiative: a Global Eff ort to EC press release, (2008a). Commission proposal to re- Reduce Leaking Electricity, Lawrence Berkeley Labora- duce standby electric power consumption. Draft , tory, USA. http:// europa.eu/rapid/pressReleaseAction. Nissen, N., (2007), EuP Preparatory Study Lot 6 – Standby do?reference=MEMO/08/488 and off -mode Losses – Task 4 Technical Analysis Existing EC press release, (2008b). Ecodesign: Commission reduces Products, Ecodesign of EuP Products, ecostandby.org. standby electricity consumption. http:// europa. eu/ Nipkow, J, et al, (2007). Reduction of standby losses – Barri- rapid/pressReleaseAction.do?reference=IP/08/2004 ers and measures to overcome these barriers. Ministry of EC regulation, (2008a). Commission regulation (EC) Energy, Bern, Switzerland (in German). implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Swedish energy agency, (2007). Improved energy statistics for Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign premises – step by step STIL – Report for year 1 – Inven- requirments for standby and off mode electricity power tory of offi ces and administrative buildings. (In Swed- consumption of electrical and electronic household and ish). Report ER 2007:34 http://213.115.22.116/System/ offi ce equipment. Draft , commission of the European ViewResource.aspx?rl=Energimyndigheten:/Resources/ communities. Permanent/StorageItem/91915cb1cdff 4ea0ae9df7d017fc7 EC regulation, (2008b). Commission regulation (EC) No 87c/ER2007_34w.pdf 1275/2008 of December 2008. Offi cial Journal of the Swedish Energy Agency, (2008). End-use metering campaign European Union. in households in Sweden – Assessment of the potential EBOB, (2005). Energy effi cient behaviour in offi ce buildings. electricity savings. Draft report. Th e fi ft h framework programme of the European Com- Persson, A., (2005), Verifi cation of key fi gures – step by step mission, NNE5/2001/263, www.ebob-pro.com. STIL. Swedish Energy Agency, Sweden (in Swedish). Holst, M. (2008). Ecodesign requirements on standby, TV Picklum, R., (1999), Guide to Reducing Energy Use in Of- and external power supply units. Presentation from the fi ce Equipment, Bureau of Energy Conservation, City & Swedish Energy Agency, www.energimyndigheten.se/ County of San Francisco and Energy Analysis Depart- Global/Filer. ment, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, USA. Jagemar, L., (2004), Use profi les for offi ce equipment and lighting in offi ce buildings – measurments in three mod-

1518 ECEEE 2009 SUMMER STUDY • ACT! INNOVATE! DELIVER! REDUCING ENERGY DEMAND SUSTAINABLY