Energy Efficient PC Power Supplies

Energy efficiency has become a topic of increasing popularity in today's world. It seems that one cannot go a day without hearing talk of hybrid cars, alternative fuels, and fluorescent light bulbs. Terms like "carbon footprint", once used only by environmentalists and scientists, have become familiar in everyday speech. Even Hollywood has taken to making movies that focus on pollution and global warming. Still, it's not just the news agencies and the movie producers that have become fascinated with the idea of "going green". Companies have noticed the increased demand for energy efficient products, and have stepped up to meet the challenge. 

One particular source of improvement is computer power supplies. By installing a new energy efficient power supply in your computer, or by purchasing a computer with one already installed, you can save money and the environment at the same time.

The power supply unit (PSU) in your desktop computer is a device that converts electricity from the wall outlet into the voltages required by the internal components of your computer. Manufacturers assign an efficiency rating to their power supplies, which indicates how good the unit is at converting energy. In an ideal world, the power supply would be 100% efficient, meaning it would turn every single watt of power from the wall outlet into usable power for the computer. Of course, this is not the case. As with all electrical components, a power supply doesn't do a perfect job of handling electricity. Some energy is lost, and escapes in the form of heat.

Most power supplies have an efficiency of 50-70%, although cheap models will have even lower efficiencies. For a 60% efficient unit that is rated at 300 watts power draw, 120 watts are lost to the environment as ambient heat when the computer is running at full load. This is the equivalent of leaving two standard light bulbs on when they're not needed. Faster computers with larger power supplies have the potential to waste more energy, especially when performing complex computations that demand a lot of power. If you have a computer that sees a lot of use, it might be advantageous to research its power supply and determine its efficiency. If it's less than 70%, chances are you'll be able to save yourself some money in the long run by upgrading to a more efficient PSU.

Power supplies can be purchased at your local computer store, large retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City, or online at websites like TigerDirect.com and Newegg.com. They're fairly easy to install, because all you'll need is a screwdriver and about fifteen minutes of time. Most new power supplies from name brand manufacturers have the efficiency printed on the side of the packaging, along with a list of general specifications. If you're looking for the ultimate in energy efficient units, consider only those that are 80 Plus certified. Power supplies that obtain this rating have a sustainable efficiency greater than 80% over their entire operating range. More information about the 80 plus program can be found.

Purchasing an energy efficient power supply isn't only good for your electricity bill; it's also good for your computer. Solid engineering and efficiency go hand in hand--efficient power supplies provide cleaner, more reliable power to your computer's components, and will generally have a longer lifespan than cheap units. They run much cooler, as there is less waste heat being dissipated to the room, and are usually quieter than the average PSU. If you're buying a new computer, look into the specifications of its power supply. Desktop manufacturers are starting to use more efficient power supplies in their computers, and you can't beat buying a new computer that already has an efficient PSU in it.