Washburn said there are other reasons why PC power management tools aren't being deployed more widely. That includes concerns about possible end-user backlash, uncertainties about the best approach and policies to put in place, and an inability to predict financial savings and make a business case for a program if companies haven't measured their existing power consumption levels.

But only 9% of the IT managers surveyed by Forrester said they had no interest at all in PC power management, while 48% said they were considering the idea of setting up a program. Washburn thinks that change is afoot. Even if IT managers don't own the energy budget at their companies, "there is much more pressure to ," he said.