User Guide to Power Management
in PCs and Monitors

by Bruce Nordman, Mary Ann Piette,
Kris Kinney, and Carrie Webber


> Abstract

Power management of personal computers (PCs) and monitors has the potential to save significant amounts of electricity as well as deliver other economic and environmental benefits. The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program has transformed the PC market so that equipment capable of power management is now widely available. However, previous studies have found that many Energy Star compliant computer systems are not accomplishing energy savings. The principal reasons for this are systems not being enabled for power management or a circumstance that prevents power management from operating. This guide is intended to provide information to computer support workers to increase the portion of systems that successfully power manage.

The guide introduces power management concepts and the variety of benefits that power management can bring. It then explains how the parts of a computer system work together to enter and leave power management states. Several common computer system types are addressed, as well as the complications that networks bring to power management. Detailed instructions for checking and configuring several system types are provided, along with "trouble shooting" advice. The guide concludes with a discussion of how to purchase Energy Star compliant systems and future directions for power management of PCs and related equipment.

This report can be read by clicking on the Table of Contents below or by downloading the Adobe Acrobat version.

[Acrobat version] Click here to download the Adobe Acrobat version of the "User Guide to Power Management in PCs and Monitors"


Table of Contents


> Cover Page, Acknowledgement, and Disclaimer


> Chapters

> 1. Introduction to Power Management
- 1.1 Reasons for this guide
- 1.2 How to use this guide
- 1.3 National benefits of power management

> 2. What is Power Management?
- 2.1 What is Power Management?
- 2.2 How the User Benefits from Power-Managed Computers

> 3 How Does Power Management Work?
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 Power Management Modes and System
- 3.3 PC Power Management
- 3.4 PC Power Management with Networks
- 3.5 Monitor Power Management
- 3.6 Power Management in Workstations
- 3.7 Aftermarket Devices
- 3.8 Potential Barriers To Power Management

> 4 What can I do with my existing stock of PCs?
- 4.1 Turn off computers at night and on weekends
- 4.2 Determining Power Management Capability and Enabling Power Management
- 4.3 Overview
- 4.4 Trouble Shooting

> 5 How do I buy new ENERGY STAR computers?

> 6 Future Directions

> 7 Summary

> 8 References



> Appendices

> Appendix A. Glossary

> Appendix B. Resources

> Appendix C. BIOS Setup Systems

> Appendix D. Enabling Power Management for Specific Systems
- D.1 Introduction
- D.2 Enabling Monitor Power Management in x86-based machines
- D.3 Enabling PC Power Management in x86-based machines
- D.4 Enabling Monitor and PC Power Management in BIOS
- D.5 Enabling Power Management in Apple Systems
- D.6 Enabling Power Management in Sun Systems
- D.7 Install Aftermarket Devices

> Appendix E. Assumptions

> Appendix F. One-page Summary

> Appendix G. Audit Procedures


[info] For further information about Building Energy Measurement and Performance Analysis publications, please contact Alan Meier, at +1 (510) 486-4740


[forward] Continue to the Cover Page, Acknowledgements, and Disclaimer.

[back] Other Building Energy Measurement and Performance Analysis publications
[back] Return to the Building Energy Measurement and Performance Analysis home page
This web page last modified by Brian Pon on April 27, 2000.
Questions? E-mail Alan Meier.