Illinois DNR Saves Energy by Powering Down Computer Monitors

May 2003

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has joined the ENERGY STAR™ Million Monitor Drive, a program to help save energy and money and protect the environment by putting computer monitors to sleep.

ENERGY STAR qualified, jointly managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hopes to activate monitor power management, which sets monitors to go into a low-power "sleep" mode during periods of inactivity, on one million computer monitors through the Million Monitor Drive.

Working closely with ENERGY STAR qualified, the IDNR enabled the power management features on 555 computer monitors located in its Springfield headquarters building. This initiative will save approximately 111,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) during the next year. That is enough electricity to light 128 U.S. homes for one month. At an average rate (including demand charge) of $0.0675 per kWh, IDNR will see an annual savings of $7,492.

"Every watt counts," said Jeri Knaus, natural resources specialist for the IDNR Waste Management and Research Center. "The Department is committed to using energy efficiently, and the simple act of powering down our computer screens is helping us reduce our energy use, save money, and set a positive example in state government."