Saving energy means preserving jobs! Testimonial: VNV SA
Neuchâtel companies work together to provide solutions for the entire economy!
Mikaël Zennaro, Managing Director of VNV SA, shares his experience.
Switzerland is likely to run out of energy this winter. How do you feel about this situation?
As a service and consultancy company, we are regularly called upon to answer energy-related questions. We also operate a data center in the Neuchâtel mountains, which requires a 24-hour power supply. As we are relatively well informed about the energy situation, we are concerned about the lack of visibility, which makes it difficult to take action. We are taking the situation very seriously, and are trying to anticipate and prepare as much as possible for the coming winter.
What are the implications for your company?
In the event of shortages or quotas, the impact on our company will be considerable, as we obviously can't turn off the electricity in the datacenter. We have a continuity plan that enables us to ensure our energy supply. This allows us to concentrate our efforts on making savings, while being prepared for the different scenarios.
What steps have you taken in your company to reduce energy consumption?
We have installed various sensors in each workspace, as well as in common areas. These include automatic power cut-offs for control screens and household appliances such as coffee machines. Electricity consumption can also be monitored in real time. This information is visible to everyone, helping to raise awareness. We've grouped consumption by work island, so that individual data is available only to the user. What's more, our wifi equipment is programmed to switch off at night. To reinforce our action, we have also given each member of our team a copy of these sensors to use at home.
How do these sensors work?
These sensors are very simple. They consist of a box to be inserted between the plug of the appliance you wish to measure and the electrical socket. A simple application then enables you to monitor your consumption and carry out actions linked, for example, to a calendar.
What are the steps involved in setting them up?
The plug installs in just a few minutes. After creating an account, simply connect it to a wifi connection via a small wizard. The data can then be viewed in the application or on the website. It is entirely possible to go much further with the available data, for example by including it in a more comprehensive management system. This is made possible by the API (programming interface) available.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary, but you should expect to pay around CHF 40 (incl. VAT) per device.
How would you assess the results you've achieved with this approach?
Several points have already been identified and corrected. Interesting things have come to light. We realized that a 65-inch TV screen consumed as much energy as two workstations. In fact, the screen in question consumed an average of 150 kW, whereas a workstation with an office computer and two 24" screens consumed around 75 kW.
So it's very important to ensure that TV screens are switched off when not in use. At the same time, computers must also be switched off or put into extended standby mode. We prefer to switch computers off when not in use, so that updates can be applied, for example.
On the other hand, we found that recent screens (less than 3 years old) consumed almost nothing when on standby (less than 0.2 W/h). So we didn't find it necessary to press the button every morning and evening.
Conversely, an old phone or USB charger consumes more than 2W when not in use but plugged in. So it's best to go on the hunt for large screens and old chargers, and make sure they're switched off, or even unplugged altogether in some cases.
Source : CNCI
