News

Outdoor kiosks going green

December 15, 2010

Technology to cut outdoor kiosk power consumption is now available from KIOSK Information Systems.

The company developed a fan cooling system that virtually eliminates the need for an internal air conditioning unit in an outdoor kiosk deployment, according to a press release from KIOSK.

The fan system exchanges internal cabinet air with external ambient air at 15 times the rate of previous industry standards, consistently maintaining the specified operating temperature range.

"This alternate cooling technology reduces average power consumption a minimum of 54 percent—day in, day out for the expected seven-year machine life," said KIOSK CTO Don Stark in the release. "Over time, this one change equates to cutting 3300-plus kilowatt-hours of consumption per kiosk deployed. This eco-benefit compounded across a single customer's project deployment represents enough energy savings to power 900 homes for a year."

Stark also said the economic benefit to an outdoor deployer makes the fan conversion even more compelling.

"The combined savings associated with omitting the AC unit and using conventional PC technology (vs. solid state mil spec grade) is substantial. By eliminating additional high-end components, it cuts the front-end cost of the equipment 20 percent or more while reducing long-term operating costs and end-of-life recycling expenses tied to the AC unit."