Choose the right CPU

To optimize energy consumption, choose a CPU that meets the performance requirements of your application without exceeding them.  Keep in mind that a more powerful processor may have higher performance per watt compared to a less powerful processor, and can perform more work per unit of power consumed, resulting in lower energy consumption. Newer CPU architectures or higher-end processors may have better power efficiency at higher workloads due to advancements in technology or microarchitecture, resulting in a more energy-efficient solution overall.  Use performance per watt as a guideline, and test CPUs against your actual workload to make a final choice.

Choose a CPU that is designed for power efficiency.  These CPUs feature sleep and idle states to reduce power consumption during periods of inactivity. These states allow the CPU to minimize power usage by either reducing the clock frequency, halting execution, or shutting down certain components when they are not required.

The Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) of a CPU, which defines its instruction set and programming model, can also impact power consumption. Some features, such as complex out-of-order execution and speculative execution, can increase power consumption due to the increased hardware complexity and activity. RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) architectures, such as ARM and RISC-V, are generally known for their power efficiency compared to CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) architectures, such as x86.