Energy Efficiency

I happened to read a book 《四倍數－資源使用減半，人民福祉加倍》 in 2002. Its concepts affect me so much that almost all the furniture and electronics in the apartment where I’m living in were bought with the careful consideration of the energy efficiency.

For instance, when I was deciding what computer I should buy, the book’s point that laptops uses only one hundredth of the energy of desktops made an big impact on me. At last, I went for Panasonic laptop <http://prodb.matsushita.co.jp/product/info.do?pg=04&hb=CF-W2AW1AXR>, because its maximum power consumption is the least of the class.

Well, it may not be the fact nowadays as desktop’s CRT monitor is virtually replaced by LCD monitor. However, according to the more updated report,

Laptops are big energy savers compared to desktop computers, and current models are fully capable of performing more than the average tasks required by home offices. They draw from 14 to 25 watts while on, and most go down to 1 or 2 watts during sleep mode. Using a laptop could save anywhere from 40 to 100 watts, depending on the desktop unit it would replace. (Rocky Mountain Institute, 2004)

In year-basis, the use of energy of desktops is seven times or more more than laptops.

Same to the inkjet and laser printers, the energy consumption of laser printers is a double of inkjets.

Even I paid as much as notice to the efficiency of everything, I still couldn’t make the apartment as Rocky Mountain Institute’s Headquarters Building. Say, I never use air conditioner, but 3 air conditioners were installed in advance. They’re wasted no matter what. Who has the responsibility? The developer definitely.

I really hope that people can pay more attention to the ecology. It’s not about the thing you can afford financially. It’s about how longer the earth can feed us, not only human, but all the creature.

p.s. The book has also mentioned that we shouldn’t wear tie (should wear/dress casually) at office so as not to increase the indoor temperature. Yes, it’s what our administrator advocates, but it’s 8 years late.

Further reading
Rocky Mountain Institute (2004) “Home Energy Brief #7, Electronics”, <http://www.rmi.org/images/other/Energy/E04-17_HEB7Electronics.pdf>

Rocky Mountain Institute – Home Resource Efficiency <http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid167.php>

Rocky Mountain Institute – RMI’s Headquarters Building <http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid379.php>

《四倍數－資源使用減半，人民福祉加倍》(Factor Four) – <http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=0010078360>

《資源的有效利用》(《四倍數》譯者吳信如的 PowerPoint presentation) <http://www.tscvs.ttct.edu.tw/refresh/資源有效利用.ppt>