Energy demand of workplace computer solutions - A comprehensive assessment including both end-user devices and the power consumption they induce in data centers

Abstract

The number of Internet-enabled end-user devices such as personalcomputers, notebooks, tablets, smartphones, etc. is increasingconstantly. However, since the devices themselves are becoming ever moreenergy-efficient, their overall energy consumption in the use phase oftheir life cycle seems to be increasing only marginally, or evendecreasing in some areas. In contrast, the energy consumption induced indata centers by the use of end-user devices is rising. The presentcontribution presents the results of a Borderstep Institute study on thedevelopment of personal computers conducted within the framework of theresearch project AC4DC. Data was gathered on the number of workplacecomputer solutions in German businesses, the computers' energyconsumption, as well as the energy consumption in data centers theyinduced. In 2014, electricity consumption in data centers induced byend-user devices amounted to between 17 and 49 kWh per end-user deviceand year. The contribution compares the results of this study with thedata from a 2010 survey and projects the global significance of the useof Internet-enabled end-user devices on the energy consumption of datacenters.