Smart Phone - Energy Saving Potential

[jebatty]

I'm late to the smart phone game, as I replaced my dumb phone with a Moto X Pure just 3 weeks ago. I also use a desktop computer. What I now notice is that I use the computer only for a few hours in the morning and then the smart phone for the rest of the day, which means I now shut off the computer, saving about 10 hours/day of otherwise computer "on" time. The electricity savings from shutting the computer off is about 10 hours x 115 watts average, or a little more than one kWh/day, which is about $42/year electricity savings, and also is about a 7% reduction in annual non-heating household kWh usage. This is a significant reduction in electricity usage resulting from a small change in lifestyle habits.

 

[woodgeek]

I've used a laptop exclusively since the late 90s. The power consumption is 5-10W. For much of my work day I use an 21" 2k LED monitor with it. Its power consumption is ~18W.

Desktops are unnecessary energy hogs for 95% of users.

 

[jebatty]

I agree on the energy hog desktops. Mine is 115 watts which includes a 22" LED monitor, laser printer mostly on idle, and an external backup HD. My wife really likes the desktop because of how fast it is on the stuff she does, like lots of video shorts which burden many websites. I like it because of how fast it is on some processor/memory intensive programs. My laptop is very old, very slow, and ready for retirement. I keep it around because it runs XP and I have a few old programs which will not run on Win10.

 

[iamlucky13]

Even desktops are benefiting from recent improvements in energy consumption. My new gaming rig, built last winter, draws 70 Watts (computer + monitor + modem) according to my Kill a Watt when everything is on, but I'm not actively doing anything. It's a lot more than that while gaming, but active use isn't wasted energy.

The computer it replaced drew 150 Watts under similar circumstances. The difference is a combination of chips becoming naturally more efficient as transistors get smaller, and components having varying idle states that waste less power when little is going on.

The monitor is set to turn off after 10 minutes of non-activity, saving 27 Watts. The modem pulls 7 Watts, and when home, my wife's smartphone uses it, too. I don't have the computer auto-sleep, which would cut draw down to about 2 Watts, plus the modem, because I use it too frequently, but it does get shut off overnight or when away.

Had energy use, instead of performance, been the primary concern, I could have built a desktop that draws only a bit more than a laptop.

 

[begreen]

I've used a laptop exclusively since the late 90s. The power consumption is 5-10W. For much of my work day I use an 21" 2k LED monitor with it. Its power consumption is ~18W.

Desktops are unnecessary energy hogs for 95% of users.

I too switched to a MacPro laptop a while ago. Very low energy usage and very fast. I have a secondary monitor that I can run if I need more desktop room.

 

[jebatty]

I would guess a smart phone uses even less power than the lean laptops. Where I am ending up is using the smart phone for tasks like news updates, scanning websites (like Hearth.com forums), monitoring my solar PV system, messaging, most emails, etc. In other words, for the non-intensive stuff that a laptop or other computer also can do, but use a lot less power in the process and leave the computer turned off. Then, using the computer in a block of time for its necessary tasks.

 

[woodgeek]

The major shift is that the computer (in whatever form) comes to you, being a part of your life, rather than being at a 'station' in your home that you have to go to to do 'computer stuff'. Rather than going to the desktop to access the internet, it is always in your pocket, or on your coffee table or easy chair.
While the phone is great, i still like a keyboard and some more screen real estate...so the MacBookPro is my goto. The phone is handy on trains and planes and as a Kindle reader.
Jim, you should start looking at cheap tablets using the same OS as your phone.

 

[jebatty]

Woodgeek, do you have any experience with a bluetooth keyboard for your phone? I am secretary of a couple of organizations, and an easy way to take quick notes on the phone for later reworking on the computer into final minutes might make some sense. I use an old netbook for this right now, and maybe that will remain good enough.

 

[seige101]

Woodgeek, do you have any experience with a bluetooth keyboard for your phone? I am secretary of a couple of organizations, and an easy way to take quick notes on the phone for later reworking on the computer into final minutes might make some sense. I use an old netbook for this right now, and maybe that will remain good enough.

Check out this bluetooth keyboard from amazon only $16. We are switching to a paperless system at work and were all issued Samsung Tab tablets, even with the larger screen typing out more than a brief sentence on the touch screen was painfull. It's 3/4 the size of a full keyboard but has a good feel to it. There is a hard power switch to use when not in use.Been using the same 2 AA batteries for about 6 months now. Should be compatible with any device that has bluetooth

 

[woodgeek]

Woodgeek, do you have any experience with a bluetooth keyboard for your phone? I am secretary of a couple of organizations, and an easy way to take quick notes on the phone for later reworking on the computer into final minutes might make some sense. I use an old netbook for this right now, and maybe that will remain good enough.

nope. i use the laptop for that. if your old one dies, you can get a refurb toshiba chromebook for ~$200.

 

[velvetfoot]

You require a broadband connection, that might require more power, of some sort for that chromebook?

The last power outage, I came up with the 'bright' idea of doing away with space lighting and have everyone wear headlamps. I'm not sure it would take off though.

 

[woodgeek]

Indeed. I assume that any of them (or any modern home) need a broadband connection and wifi. And that can easily use 50W on a 24/7 basis. I just replaced my equipment, and the new stuff seems to be better....maybe 15-20W.

 

[jebatty]

Check out this bluetooth keyboard from amazon ....

Arrived yesterday, paired easily with my phone, and first impression is an excellent keyboard. My old netbook, which was a charm when I got it, likely will become my newest paperweight.

 

[iluvjazznjava]

Smart phones can save energy in numerous ways. There is the direct use of them vs more power hungry computers (saves energy for sure), but they can indirectly help save you a lot of energy too. More and more, we will move as a society towards "smart homes" whereby we can control virtually all aspects of our homes right from our smart phone or a web browser. The technology is already out there, it's just being refined. I can use my iphone to control the thermostat connected to my furnace and I also have a rudimentary home automation system whereby I can control some lights and also run a home security system. Now if someone would only create a commercially viable "smart stove" system whereby I could monitor and control my stove (which is in the basement) from my iphone - that's what I'm waiting for. Heck, I would settle for a text message alert when my stove is overheating, but unless you spend big $ that's not readily available right now.