powersaving

Power saving, also written as powersaving, refers to techniques and strategies designed to reduce energy consumption in devices, systems, and infrastructure while maintaining acceptable performance or output. It encompasses hardware design, software methods, and policy measures aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing standby losses.

In electronics and computing, power saving is implemented through sleep and low-power modes, dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS), clock gating, power gating, and reduced activity states. Components such as displays, processors, memory, and peripherals may enter lower power states when idle. Energy efficient design also focuses on reducing leakage current and using low-power circuits and sleep timers.

In consumer electronics and smartphones, operating systems coordinate autosleep, brightness control, and background task management to minimize energy use. In data centers, servers employ DVFS, sleep states, and workload consolidation, while cooling systems are optimized for energy efficiency.

In buildings and infrastructure, energy management systems monitor consumption, automate lighting, HVAC, and equipment, and participate in demand response programs. Smart meters and building automation help users shift usage to off-peak times.

Policy and standards: governments and organizations establish appliance efficiency standards, labelling schemes, and codes that require minimum energy performance. Examples include Energy Star, EU energy labeling, and building codes. Incentives and tariffs encourage consumer and industrial adoption of power-saving technologies.

Challenges and considerations: balancing performance, latency, and user experience with energy reductions; upfront costs; interoperability of devices and standards; measurement and verification of savings.