News

Posted On: 07/29/2010

PlugCalc app identifies energy savings from automatically controlling plug loads

PlantServices.com

WattStopper has developed PlugCalc as a key component in its Energy Calculator Tool Kit. The tool is available online or as a free downloadable iPad app.

PlugCalc enables users to calculate energy savings opportunities as well as return on investment (ROI) by automatically controlling plugged in office equipment and other plug loads. These loads represent a growing source of electrical consumption in commercial applications, accounting for as much as 20% of total energy use in office buildings (data from the Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Building End-Use Consumption Survey).

Built on the same user-friendly model as the existing Lighting Energy Calculator, the online version of PlugCalc features fill-in fields and drop-down menus to simplify the calculation process. To identify power usage of each plug load, visitors can accept the default power rating published by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which is built into the tool, or select the setting by activating the slider. Users can easily compute potential energy savings of up to eight different plug loads by selecting them from a pull down menu of typical office equipment (computer monitors, computer speakers, task lighting, personal printers, personal charging devices, scanners, USB hubs). Users can also create customized device lists. As with the Lighting Energy Calculator tool, PlugCalc allows users to print their calculation out or email results directly from the webpage.

The iPad version provides the same functionality via touch pad, and users can email results to their laptop for printing.