These problems can reduce the positive environmental impact of power management. Computer manufacturers have addressed this problem by making power management more flexible and more compatible with current PC networks. As the technology has matured, power management has emerged as an effective tool for saving energy. This guide has been developed to aid computer professionals in enabling power management, to help to achieve maximum energy savings with a minimum of problems. The scope of the guide is primarily personal computers and monitors, though one type of computer workstation is also included.
Power management can only save energy if it is enabled and working properly.
Unfortunately, a general lack of information about power management has meant that many computers with power management capability are not saving energy-because they were never enabled, because they were actively disabled, or because of interference from the various elements of the computer system or network. To overcome these problems, computer professionals must become better informed about power management. The chapters need not be read in order, but doing so will lead to the most complete understanding of power management. Chapter 3 provides an in-depth explanation of how computer power management works, addressing the relationship among the PC, the monitor, the BIOS, software, etc. While is not necessary to have read Chapter 3 to understand Chapters 4 and 5, it is helpful to be familiar with the basics of power management so readers are encouraged to review it.