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Oregon Health & Science University Innovates in Saving Energy
March 30, 2005
OHSU demonstrates its commitment to energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction by
deploying software designed to eliminate energy waste in its PC network
Portland, OR—At a time of growing concern over rising energy costs and global warming, Oregon Health & Science
University (OHSU) has purchased and installed the Surveryor Network Energy Manager, a software program from
Verdiem Corporation, which will measure, manage, and reduce energy consumption of more than 6,000 personal
computers (PCs) at the university.
SURVEYOR allows network administrators to synchronize PC power settings across
thousands of PCs from one central location. It adds new flexibility and control to existing PC power options, making
these functions more usable and dynamic. SURVEYOR can shut down PCs, control the power schemes that determine
energy use, or put PCs into low-power modes based on user needs and network maintenance schedules. “SURVEYOR
was developed because every year organizations in the U.S. waste $2 billion of electricity by leaving computers
running when no one is using them,” said Steven Sperry, Verdiem’s president and CEO.
SURVEYOR reduces the waste of energy that occurs when PCs and monitors are left on they are not being used.
SURVEYOR will help OHSU save energy, lower energy expenses and help reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and
other air pollutants that are byproducts of energy generation.
PCs are voracious consumers of electricity, and their energy use is increasing as faster processors, more memory,
and more power-hungry peripherals become commonplace. According to the Department of Energy and Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratories, the average PC can waste up to 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year simply by
running at full power when no user is present.
More than 720 pounds of carbon dioxide -- a major source of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming
-- are produced while generating the electricity that powers a typical PC for a year in Oregon. From the energy
savings on its SURVEYOR-enabled PCs, OHSU can expect to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.7 million pounds
every year – the equivalent of removing 120 SUVs from Portland-area streets and highways.
Based on extensive pre-deployment testing and measurement, SURVEYOR is expected to reduce the average cost to
power each OHSU PC by more than $15 annually through user-friendly power management settings. The program
is expected to save OHSU significant energy expenses over time.
The Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc. (www.energytrust.org) agreed to provide partial financing for the project. Energy
Trust of Oregon is a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing how Oregonians use energy by promoting energy
efficiency and clean renewable energy for Oregon customers of Pacific Power, Portland General Electric and NW
Natural. The Energy Trust provides financial incentives to organizations that implement energy efficiency measures.
Energy Trust supported OHSU’s investment in Verdiem’s SURVEYOR software because of the anticipated reduction in
demand of more than 1,400 megawatt-hours per year.
OHSU performed extensive technical due diligence on SURVEYOR before deciding to deploy the software. Led by
Corey Regan, OHSU’s Manager of Network Application Engineering, the software was installed on 35 PCs. SURVEYOR
measured the actual energy consumption of the PCs and forecast average savings of over 230 kilowatt-hours per
PC per year. The technical evaluation confirmed that SURVEYOR did not impact users negatively, was compatible
with OHSU’s network, and could be managed with a minimum of IT resources. “We carefully validated the energy
savings, technical compatibility, and user impact of the Verdiem software before deciding to roll-out,” said Regan.
Ali Sadri, Associate Director of Facilities Management and Construction, added that “SURVEYOR offered an innovative
approach to saving energy beyond that offered by traditional energy efficiency measures.
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