Energy Efficient Office Phones
Phones: Energy Efficient vs. Conventional
Office phones that use about half the energy as those in common use.
Synopsis:
Phones systems in modern offices use more energy than many people realize. Energy-efficient phone models are available that also provide the functionality that procurement staff require. While the energy consumption of individual phones is small, substantial energy savings potential exists at offices and call centers with hundreds or thousands of phones. According to one manufacturer (Avaya) their communication system saved one client 1,413,000 kWh worth $250,000 per year on energy costs for a 2000-user data and voice network. (Note: these savings occur from replacement of LAN switches, call servers, gateways, unified messaging, and phones). These savings included reduced cooling costs.
Software control can reduce a product power footprint by:
• Intelligently reducing the switching capacity of the network during off-peak hours while enabling customers to maintain full network connectivity
• Providing the option to selectively turn off devices with low power over Internet (PoE) priority
• Applying selectively based on PoE port power priorities so that users can ensure that important devices with high or critical priority remain powered
• Reducing phone energy use by dimming display when idle
• Reducing the power allocated to each devices to just what’s needed rather than a pre-determined amount, using a type of dimmer switch.
Energy Star has produced certification efficiency standards for voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) phones and cordless phones. An old VoIP phone might require 10 input Watts while the standards call for a 38% reduction in energy use.
Energy Savings: 38%
Energy Savings Rating: Not rated.
What's this?
| Level | Status | Description |
| 1 | Concept not validated | Claims of energy savings may not be credible due to lack of documentation or validation by unbiased experts. |
| 2 | Concept validated: | An unbiased expert has validated efficiency concepts through technical review and calculations based on engineering principles. |
| 3 | Limited assessment | An unbiased expert has measured technology characteristics and factors of energy use through one or more tests in typical applications with a clear baseline. |
| 4 | Extensive assessment | Additional testing in relevant applications and environments has increased knowledge of performance across a broad range of products, applications, and system conditions. |
| 5 | Comprehensive analysis | Results of lab and field tests have been used to develop methods for reliable prediction of performance across the range of intended applications. |
| 6 | Approved measure | Protocols for technology application are established and approved. |