Computer Users Can Help Achieve 10% Power Saving

Auckland, New Zealand - Wednesday, August 1, 2001-- Microsoft New Zealand today said computer users could help save up to 10% of the government's target by utilising power saving techniques within Microsoft® Windows® software. Microsoft also called on the rest of the IT industry to lead the way by putting these measures into effect.

Ross Peat, Microsoft New Zealand's sales and marketing director said that computer users now have sophisticated tools to control power consumption.

"They could set their computer system to turn off monitors after 5 to 10 minutes, and put the computer into standby mode after 15 to 20 minutes.

When they are away from their computers overnight, they can turn their PCs off completely or select 'Stand by' or 'Hibernate' mode."

Standby places the computer in a low power consumption mode where most hardware devices are either turned off or switched to low power, but all software applications remain running.

Hibernate saves maximum power without taking the time to completely shut down, by flushing the computer's memory and settings to pre-allocated disk space and shutting off the machine automatically - when switched back on, it returns to the same position it was when shut down.

Peat said University of California scientists calculated during the recent power shortages there, that computers and other office equipment used 3 percent of total energy use.

"If all businesses power down computers and office equipment down overnight, we estimate from the Californian experience that we could collectively deliver 10% of the Government's consumption cut target," Peat elaborated.

Microsoft New Zealand was taking its own measures to conserve power. "With immediate effect, our staff have been asked to put their computers into hibernate mode when they are away at meetings and at the end of the day," Peat said. "Microsoft is also switching off the neon signs on our office buildings in Auckland and Wellington, and we look to the rest of our industry to help make a difference by making similar contributions."

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