IGEL claims thin client use slashes CO2 emissions

According to IGEL Technology, the use of thin clients, as an alternative to business desktop PCs, is helping to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Western Europe.

A thin client is a model of computer networking where most of the function of the system is located in a central server. Users access programs and resources with only a keyboard, monitor and network connection.

IGEL claims that the use of thin clients reduced CO2 emissions in Western Europe by 166,000 tonnes in 2007, according to analysis based on the latest IDC analyst figures and research carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany.

According to Dr Hartmut Pflaum of the Fraunhofer Institute, thin clients consume 50 per cent less power than PC when in operation. PCs consume an average of 85 watts, while thin clients including their server, consume between 40 and 50 watts.

IDC figures report around 3.4 million thin clients sold in Western Europe since 2004 and an average machine lifecycle of 4 years. This means that client-based businesses have reduced CO2 emissions by 166,000 tonne in 2007.

With the thin client industry currently accounting for just 10% of the commercial desktops in the Western European market, this means there is significant room for growth, with substantial potential benefits to the environment.

IGEL Technology is the third largest thin client vendor in the world, and the market leader in Germany. The company produces thin clients based on Linux and Microsoft Windows.

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