An answer in the consumer and small business market to save energy is to disconnect those Vampire Electronics. Those devices that use power even when you don't need them. But, one of the devices you can't unplug is your UPS device with the emergency battery back-up for those devices that need to survive power outages. But, as any of who have focused on a better PUE you know the UPS can be huge user of power and cooling capacity in your data center.
The EPA has recognized this issue with UPS's and has been working on ENERGY STAR program for UPS. Schneider Electric announced they are one of the first to qualify.
Schneider Electric’s Uninterruptible Power Supply Products First to Achieve ENERGY STAR® Qualification
Power protection devices achieve inaugural approval in ENERGY STAR program’s new category
WEST KINGSTON, R.I. – September 5, 2012 – Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, today announced select Back-UPS™ and Smart-UPS™ (uninterruptible power supply) models have become the first-ever UPSs to earn the ENERGY STAR qualification under the federal program’s new UPS category. Acknowledged for meeting standardized energy efficiency requirements and passing the program’s testing, the selected Smart-UPS and Back-UPS products have been recognized for their abilities to both save customers money while helping to protect the environment.
So, how much energy can you save compared to a device that is not ENERGY STAR? Here is some info from the EPA site.
Did You Know?
If all Uninterruptible Power Supplies sold in the United States in 2012 meet the ENERGY STAR requirements, the energy cost savings will grow to $471 million and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the emissions from more than 636,000 vehicles.
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ENERGY STAR certified UPS can cut energy losses by 30-55%. A 1000 kVA UPS used in a large data center could save $18,000 annually.
Here are the range of devices that the ENERGY STAR UPS program covers.
ENERGY STAR UPS covers from the small devices beneath your desk protecting your computer to 8-ton versions designed to temporarily provide a megawatt of power to large data centers.
UPS Topology Typically Referred To As: Referred To In ENERGY STAR Specification As: Typically Sized Up To: Typically Used For:
- Passive
- Offline
- Standby
Voltage and Frequency Dependent (VFD) 1,500 VA small offices, personal home computers and other less critical applications
- Line Interactive
Voltage Independent (VI) 5,000 VA small business, Web, and departmental servers
- Online
- Continuous
- Double Conversion
Voltage and Frequency Independent (VFI) 1,000 kVA data centers