New Microchip Technology Eliminates ‘Standby’ Energy Consumption

Researchers in Japan have developed microchip technology that eliminates energy consumption in electronic devices while in so-called “standby” mode. While most electronic devices, including televisions and personal computers, now require circuits to be powered continuously to assure instant startup, the new semiconductor technology developed by NEC Corporation and scientists at Tohoku University uses tiny magnets to store vital data while appliances are switched off. The power consumed by electronic devices in standby mode represents from 2 to 10 percent of total household energy consumption. But the real energy savings could come at large data centers, where the new so-called “spintronics” technology could reduce power consumption by 25 percent, said Naoki Kasai, a scientist at Tohoku University.