PoE Computers - The Smart Sustainable Option

POE Computers - A Smart, Flexible Money-Saving Solution

The network continues to take a more central role in an organisation. As more computers and peripherals are "connected", companies are realising the benefits of employing converged architecture for everything from controlling systems and building management systems, to transportation (escalators/ elevators) and energy management.
This blog post focuses on energy management and computers, and how the network can play a big role in making organisations more sustainable. Here are five reasons why PoE Computers from Thinlabs will help your organisation save money and why POE Computers are the smart choice.

1) Significant energy savings:  Typical desktop computers consume anywhere from 60- 250 Watts (source: michaelbluejay.com).  With intelligent energy management systems, average power consumption could be reduced with the computer going into standby or sleep modes, however this requires investments in terms of time to manage and implement.
Thinlabs is the only organisation to offer 19 and 22 inch Windows/Linux client POE computers that operate under IEEE’s PoE 802.3at+ standards (30 W) and consume less than half the power of the standard desktop.  Utlising the same energy saving measures will reduce overall energy consumption massively, thereby making the Power Over Ethernet Computer a viable alternative to a regular desktop.

2) Measurement*:  Typical organisations spend about 1/4th of its total energy costs on powering ICT equipment.  The desktop commands a significant share of this spending but most organisations do not measure ICT energy consumption. Using a network centric approach will help organisations monitor and measure ICT device usage. There are solutions available in the market (Joulex, Verdiem) that help monitor and manage ICT device usage. The advantage of utilising PoE computers is that these computers can be controlled remotely and turned completely off. There are no adapters or power supply switches that remain powered on to consume any energy like in a regular desktop computer thereby maximising cost saving opportunities.

3) Control & Security*:  PoE Computers are powered by the network switch and can be controlled by the network. The POE Computer has only one source of power input – via the network - and therefore can be powered on only with the necessary network permissions.  Moreover the network manager can power up or down individual PCs remotely across a LAN or WAN, providing an added level of security reducing risks of unauthorised access.  Additionally the network can record when and where POE thin clients are being used, thereby creating a useful log of device usage for the organisation.

4) Reliability: With the use of a proper backup power system or UPS, the PoE switch will continue operating in case of power losses. This means that organisations can continue to operate even under a state of power failure and the low power consumption of PoE computers mean that they can operate for considerable amounts of time.

5) Flexibility:  PoE Thin Clients do not require a separate electrical supply.  Potential savings from electrical installations could reach £250 / US $400 per outlet, which could be quite substantial based on the number of devices to be set up. It also eliminates the need for power outlets or locating a device near or adjacent to existing power sources and provides increased system flexibility with a solid platform for any networking hardware investment, and supports future PoE enabled application requirements.

*These might require specialized applications to be installed.