Tips for ensuring end user cooperation
Employees typically embrace power management when they understand that they are saving money and preventing pollution by using these features. EPA recommends that you inform employees about power management settings prior to activating them. Including information on the economic and environmental benefits can secure their full support. To calculate these benefits, please visit our online savings calculator (EXCEL, 65.54 KB).
Sample Communication to End Users
Subject: Upcoming Changes to Your Computer — Please Read
Dear Employees:
Effective [date], [IT services] will activate the power management (or "sleep") features on your computer and monitor. These features automatically power down your monitor when it is idle for [x] minutes, and your computer after [y] minutes. A simple touch of the mouse or keyboard will "wake up" your system within seconds. (Many of you are familiar with this feature and some may already be using it.)
With this minor change, [organization] is joining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Low Carbon IT campaign to save energy and prevent air pollution. Once all [organization] sites are on board, this initiative will save [organization] nearly [number] kilowatt hours per year, or enough electricity to light nearly [number] U.S. homes per month. It will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide) by over [number] metric tons per year, the equivalent of removing more than [number] cars from our roads. In addition, [organization] will benefit from significant energy cost savings.
The U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program has publicly recognized [organization] for taking this action to help the environment — see our press release at [hyperlink].
Thank you in advance for you support. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about this change.
Sincerely,
[IT Services]