Fujitsu Siemens Computers ships world’s first zero-watt monitor

Published 14th August 2008

Innovation from environmental leader saves £6 per monitor per year...

Bracknell, August 13th, 2008 –The world’s first monitors to feature power supplies that automatically switch off completely in power-save mode start shipping today. Developed by Fujitsu Siemens Computers, the leading European IT provider, the revolutionary new power-saving technology goes on sale in the SCENICVIEW Premium Line ECO range.

Based on typical daily usage of 8 hours use and 16 hours standby throughout a year, the new monitor could save UK businesses approximately £6 per monitor per year. Based on just 1% of the 2.8 million PC units shipped into the UK in the second quarter of 2008, the new technology could save UK businesses £168,000 per year.

Patent-pending zero-watt power save technology means the new SCENICVIEW ECO monitors draw no power when not in use – as the DC power converter shuts down completely. This is a world first, because monitors in standby mode normally continue to draw between one and six watts of power. The Eco mode is enabled by default.

The display includes a switching element in the power supply, controlled by the PC. When the monitor powers down, it triggers the power supply to totally disconnect from the mains. When the PC next sends output to the monitor, a small electrical pulse restores display power. This function works with analogue and digital monitor outputs.

Across Europe, reducing power consumption through the adoption of electrical goods that use zero watts in standby mode would save an estimated 35 Terawatt hours per year, according to the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung)*. The EU Stand-by Initiative reports estimates that stand-by power accounts for about 10 percent of the electricity use in homes and offices of the EU Member States**.

“When it comes to electricity demand management, small changes quickly add up,” said James Governor, Principal Analyst at RedMonk, “So it’s great to see Fujitsu Siemens Computers create a monitor that consumes no power when it’s not in use.”

Both new Fujitsu Siemens Computers SCENICVIEW ECO monitors – the 20-inch P20W-5 ECO and the 22-inch P22W-5 ECO – are Premium Line models, meaning that they are feature-packed in addition to their green credentials. Both monitors ship with an enhanced ergonomic stand, providing users with unrivalled levels of control over the height of the monitor, which can even be lowered to almost desk level.

The ECO monitors also introduce DisplayView AutoBright functionality, an automatic brightness control that adapts monitor brightness in harmony with ambient light, offering power savings during operations of up to an additional 30 percent as well as reducing eye strain. When maximum brightness is needed, the new units reach an impressive 300 cd/m2.

With graphics capabilities of up to 1680 x 1050 pixels, the new ECO monitors do not scrimp on display sizes, either – while a 5 millisecond response time ensures crisp, sharp graphics and no screen artefacts. Thanks to HDMI interface support, the screens are also ideal for working with high-definition graphics.

In September, two more models will join the zero-watt monitor line-up: the 24-inch and 26-inch models.

Dr Joseph Reger, Chief Technology Officer at Fujitsu Siemens Computers, played a key role in the development of the new zero-watt technology, and comments: “Over the last year we have heard a lot of ‘greenwash’: unsubstantiated marketing claims about how new IT products are doing their bit to protect the environment. Today, with the introduction of these two new monitors, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is delivering products that are truly greener than any other monitor on the market, in both standby and operation – without a price premium.

The SCENICVIEW ECO model monitors are available to order immediately, in all countries across EMEA. Prices start at EUR 419 for the 20-inch model.