Telstra saves tonnes of energy by turning off screensavers

Telstra has switched off screensavers on around 36,000 computers across the company, reducing Telstra’s energy consumption conservatively by around 646 tonnes CO2 equivalent annually -  this simple step is the equivalent of removing nearly 140 cars from Australian roads for a year.

At midnight on 2 June 2008, corporate screensavers were removed from all Windows XP employee laptops and desktops computers, and replaced with a black screensaver. 

Telstra’s head of Public Policy & Communications Dr Phil Burgess said reducing the environmental impact of Telstra’s operations is an efficient use of resources and provides better value for shareholders.

“Telstra has a commitment to provide good stewardship of the environment, first and foremost by conservation. In the lead up to World Environment Day on 5 June, removing screensavers from our computers is a simple initiative, however the financial and environmental benefits are significant,” Dr Burgess said.

Originally, screensavers were designed to conserve older computer screens that would be damaged by leaving the same areas illuminated for long periods. However modern screens don’t require these measures. Over time screensavers have been used predominantly for entertainment and communication.

Telstra Property Director Mr Vito Chiodo said, “Previously Telstra’s multi-coloured screensaver was used to share our corporate messages. By replacing this with a black screensaver we are sending a strong environmental message to our staff that we are listening to their suggestions for ways to save energy and that we should take every opportunity, at every level in the organisation, to walk our talk.

“Screensavers use as much energy as a full screen of work and also require considerable processing energy. This change enables us to maintain our existing computer security levels, while still reducing our energy use through a black screen,” Mr Chiodo said.

Telstra’s screensaver initiative is part of a wider employee program that provides employees with simple and practical information on how they can conserve energy, water and paper, and contribute to a ‘greener’ workplace.
Other examples of how Telstra is reducing the environmental impact of its operations include:

• Telstra’s energy management programs saved 173,998 tonnes CO2 equivalent during 2006/07, which is the equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from around 18,655 average Australian homes for a year. Telstra saved $1.2 million on electricity costs alone through our energy management programs during 2006/07.
  
• Telstra is Australia’s largest private sector user of solar power, operating 10,693 solar powered sites nationally including exchanges, radio terminals, small repeater stations and pay phones, making. 
  
• Decreasing paper use per employee from 9.0 reams in 2005 to 7.2 reams in 2006/07. 
  
• Telstra endorses the use of video-conferences where possible to replace face-to-face meetings across Australia and internationally. During 2007, Telstra held nearly 7,500 video conferences, lasting nearly 20,000 hours, and saved around 4,200 tonnes in our travel-related carbon emissions.
  
• Reduced CO2 emissions from our vehicle fleet by 3,267 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2006/07 – the equivalent of taking 700 cars off the road for one year. 
  
• The installation of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in the vehicles of our technicians has led to a gain in productivity of 13.3 per cent, and a 5.6 per cent reduction in kilometres travelled per job, hence fuel used.
  
  Reference Number: 153/2008