Flat Screen LCD Computer Monitor Conversion

University Housing converted all 250 computers to flat screen LCD monitors several years ago. Housing was able to obtain the monitors at no additional cost compared to the traditional CRT monitors. The result has been a reduction in energy usage and a cost savings of approximately $8,000 annually. Many other departments at the University of South Carolina have since switched their monitors because of Housing’s effort. In addition all computers are now Energy Star rated to ensure additional savings. University Housing worked with Dell Computer and South Carolina Electric & Gas to compare the different monitors and demonstrate the savings. Below is a summary of the benefits from LCD monitors.

Summary from: LCD vs. CRT Energy Consumption: A Market Study
As prepared for Dell Computer by Mark Fihn October 29, 2001

• “LCDs typically use approximately 30% of the power of similar CRTs.”
• “Research shows that LCDs use about 74% less electricity and space than their CRT predecessors, while reducing eye-strain and heat load”. Page 3
• Reduce the kilowatts-hours/year from 273.6 to 64.1 per computer. Page 4
• Replacing all of our approximately 250 computers in Housing will save us $5,240 to $15,720 per year in electricity for just powering the monitor depending on hours usage per day.
• If all of the estimated 15,528 computers at the University of South Carolina were converted the savings would equate to approximately $325,466 to $976,400 per year, depending on hours usage per day.
• In California, CRTs consume 12.6% of the power produced in the entire state. Page 5
• “The more energy required for a computer system, the more heat that is generated, which increases air conditioning loads. An additional side effect of higher temperatures is a more rapid degradation of computing devices, resulting in shorter lifetimes and more failures”
• “Every watt of power you save in computer energy, you save again several times over in air conditioning cost…we have to pay for the power we use in computers twice; once for their use and once for the removal of their resultant heat”
• “The power consumption for a flat panel monitor is about one-fifth the power consumption of a typical CRT monitor”
• In Japan, studies have shown that if just 50% of Japan’s CRT monitors were converted to LCD, four power plants and 181,000 tons of CO2 emissions could be eliminated. Page 6
• LCD’s have longer life spans of an extra 50-75% longer.

Advantages include worker performance and ergonomics:

• Faster & better word recognition (nearly double)
• Faster word comprehension
• Fewer head turns (25% reduction)
• Reduced scrolling
• Reduced eyestrain
• Improves worker productivity
• Enhanced readability
• Reduce printing Page 11
• Reduced on-line wait times
• Higher resolution graphics Page 14

Conclusions:

• Definite substantial energy savings
• Lower life cost
• Better environmentally
• Better worker productivity
• Better ergonomically
• Definite savings

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