'Smart' power strips have arrived at Kirtland AFB

  • Published
  • By Susan Gregory
  • Kirtland AFB Resource Efficiency Manager
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  New smart power strips have arrived on Kirtland AFB and many computer workstations will be upgraded over the next few weeks.

AFMC has purchased more than 77,000 of the devices for installation at all AFMC bases and Kirtland has received 5,130.

The purpose of the SPS is to save energy by turning off equipment at computer workstations when equipment is not in use. When properly configured, the SPS enables a monitor to serve as the master power switch for workstations.

Task lights, second monitors and other peripherals can be conveniently turned on and off with the power switch on one monitor. If you forget to turn the power off, the SPS will provide backup by turning off equipment automatically after 20 minutes, when the monitor enters sleep mode. SPSs also provide surge protection.

SPSs will be issued to specific buildings and distributed by facility managers. Individuals will be provided with simple installation instructions and most people will be able to install their new SPS in less than 10 minutes.

What makes these power strips "smart" is their ability to selectively turn off some pieces of equipment while leaving other items on.
Electricity to computers is never interrupted -- only lights and peripherals are switched off. Potential energy savings vary by workstation, and will be determined by a variety of factors.

In most applications, the greatest savings will be achieved when task lights and monitors are switched off whenever practical. The 5,130 SPSs on Kirtland AFB are expected to save more than $51,000 in annual electricity costs, and will save enough energy to pay for themselves in about two years. AFMC-wide savings could approach $750,000 annually.

It is incumbent upon every one of us to save energy and reduce operational costs by actively eliminating waste.

The process of installing a new power strip will also provide an opportunity to identify and remove unused equipment at your workstation.

A small electronic device here and there might appear to be insignificant, but when multiplied by the 8,500 computer workstations on base, those small devices can add up to thousands of dollars in wasted energy every year.