The Estates and IT departments at Sheffield Health and Social Care have conducted a study which showed that computers turned on were inactive for 42% of the time. Inactive hours are composed of user inactive hours (logged on) and no log on (no user logged on). During the monitoring period total power on hours were 213,898 out of which 159,450 hours were logged on and 54,448 hours were not logged on. Whilst logged on users were active for 124,366.25 hours and inactive for 35,113.75 hours. This equates to 42% of all operating hours. The software used has been able to effectively reduce this waste. There is a carbon saving of around 13 tonnes per annum. The energy saved is approximately equivalent to making 620,000cups of tea and coffee! This software will be implemented early 2014 in our Trust!
A simple technique has dramatically improved the carbon footprint making it one of the most sustainable ways to using technology! I always switch off the computer when finished and it weighed heavily on me when computers are left turned on in some offices through out the weekend! This is a good way to minimise waste. Whilst such universal measures to help reduce waste are welcome there is a risk of absolving people from their responsibility. There is still a place to impress individual responsibilty to switch off lights and other electrical equipment following its use to reduce wastage of electricity both at home and in the hospital setting!
Mac sell reconditioned versions of all their products. (I've had a couple and have been very pleased with the quailty.) It remains to be seen whether they could honour a large contract to supply Oxford Health etc. but procurment staff making enquiries would apply some consumer pressure and show support for this form of sourcing kit. Who knows, if the market is developed we could one day see a long-term returnable deposit system on computers. If it worked on bottles of pop...
I was impressed by the work done by Sheffield Health and Social Care with regards to Sustianability! I was wondering if there would be any particular issues with regards to the software being patented by an individual or the Trust! I have written to the IT Manager with regards to this and hope to hear from him shortly.
The oxford way of using Ipads instead of computers is a good one to explore as they definietely use less energy. You are right that we are increasingly reliant on computers. I certainly spend a lot of time on them as our patient care notes are all electronic! Whatever the choice...computers or Ipads there will be an environmental cost attached to it! Our trust has an electrical and electronic disposable system through a Licensed contractor! I need to know what the Licenced contractor does with it in the end!