The Ethernet Alliance said Wednesday that its IEEE 802.3 working group recently voted to form an Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE) Study Group.
The group will look at ways to reduce power consumption by switching to lower speeds during off-peak times, said Mike Bennett of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab who is chair of the EEE. He said the group would try to maximize synergy between the energy, network and computer industries.
The Ethernet Alliance estimates that energy-efficient Ethernet could save around $450 million per year in the United States alone.
“Considering that Ethernet is the network technology of choice worldwide with an ever-increasing market presence, it is clear that we have an opportunity to reduce energy use significantly, while minimizing the impact on the industry,” Bennett said.
Ethernet Alliance www.ethernetalliance.org
