Shutdown protocols for IT—reducing energy waste in medical practice

Energy consumption by medical equipment contributes to ecological and economic costs. Analysis by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust shows that 33% of that trust’s carbon footprint was attributable to electricity use. Much of this usage was for heating, ventilation, and cooling systems,¹ but desktop computing has an often overlooked and significant impact on the environmental footprint and financial costs in healthcare, particularly in IT intensive specialties such as radiology. Installation of automatic daily shutdown protocols for computer workstations after core working hours provides a simple and highly effective means to reduce energy waste in everyday practice.