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Home -> Resources -> Twenty-One Green IT Tips -> 5. Prefer Laptop Computers Over Desktop Computers
5. Prefer Laptop Computers Over Desktop Computers In general, laptop computers use less power than desktop systems. Built to run on both wall power as well as from battery power, laptop computers have been tuned and optimized to be energy efficient. One simple way to adopt a "Green-IT" policy insofar as energy usage is concerned is to establish a preference for laptop systems over desktop computers. Web search:  laptop versus desktop energy efficiency
An ENERGY STAR Perspective. The ENERGY STAR program includes criteria for energy efficiency for both desktop and laptop computers. When comparing the most efficient categories of laptop and desktop computers, the high-water mark for laptop computers is 40 kWh (approximately $4.50 annual electricity cost) compared to a high-water mark for desktop computers of 148 kWh (approximately $16.70 annual electricity cost). The ENERGY STAR requirements themselves suggest how much more efficient laptop computers are as a category. Web search: laptop versus desktop ENERGY STAR
In Defense of Desktop Computers... This approach -- prefering laptop computers over desktop computers - works for the majority of cases. Keep in mind, however, that desktop computers are a better fit for some situations. When a system needs to be configured with multiple monitors or multiple hard drives, desktop systems provide more flexibility. When you need access to “legacy” ports such as a Serial port or Centronics printer port, these are often still standard on desktop systems but rarely available on laptop computers. Web search: laptop versus desktop configurability And from a longevity perspective desktop systems may have another edge over laptop systems. You can typically replace the CPU on a desktop system, allowing the addition of greater processing power to meet increased requirements. The CPUs of laptop systems, on the other hand, are typically soldered onto the motherboard and typically cannot be replaced. The potential for greater longevity means that the impact on waste stream is potentially less for desktop systems. |
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