Along with last year’s release of their zero-watt monitor, Fujitsu Seimens also has a line of Esprimo Green PCs, which use less than a watt while in standby mode. Added to this line is the Esprimo 7935 PC, the zero-watt model. So how does the zero-watt standby work? Traditional computers use a small electrical current when in standby to catch the power signal quickly and come back to full power. At Fujitsu Seimen’s however, their standby mode uses a switch that allows the monitor to completely shut down when not in use and to come back on when a signal from the computer instructs it to. At least, this is how the zero-watt monitor works.
But what about the zero-watt computer? This seems to be a secret that Fujitsu Seimen’s isn’t telling, which has brought the credibility of the project under suspicion. But having already premiered, the computer seems to be attracting enough attention given that this type of technology could very well help remove the notion of “vampire electronics” from our environmental worry.
While the average computer consumes anywhere from one to four watts unless it is actually disconnected from the power source, the zero-watt PC is meant to save energy and money. Aside from eco-aware individuals who might find interest, the target consumer is really large businesses that require massive numbers of computers, and who could stand to save a pretty penny from the energy-cutting machines.
While the zero-watt monitor technology is obviously not viable for electronics that require a remote control, seeing as for the remote to work a small current must still be active in the television to receive the signal, it is a great step towards making electronics more energy-friendly.
