Save Energy With Your Computer
Now if you are like me, I typically leave my computer on all the time. Strangely enough, I’m not sure why. Between sleeping and working, I physically can’t be at my computer for roughly 18 hours any given day, which leaves only a possible 6 hours to use my computer. That is a minimum of 18 hours where my computer is on, and “no one is home.” So I’m going to start turning my computer off before I go to bed at night, and only turn it on when I intend on using it.
The average PC can cost you upwards of $90/year in just electric costs if you aren’t careful (according to PCWorld). I found this interesting article over at PCWorld about your computer and peripherals (things like your printer) and how you can change some settings and habits to make it more energy efficient. I do have the energy settings so that my monitor shuts off if I don’t use my computer for 15 minutes. Lastly, we do keep our printer turned off unless we are printing something.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
If I may add a suggestion — if your PC is on but not being actively used, installing a screensaver that performs distributed computaiton operations whenever a user isn’t active.
Granted, this will make your PC use more energy rather than less, but that extra energy use can be directed into projects that may help make a macro level change (the first that comes to mind is http://climateprediction.net/).
Just the two cents from someone who has considered this issue before and got directged to this blog,
-George.
PS — The problem is actually larger than the PC World article states (it’s a bit dated) — the average *new* desktop PC is rapidly growing in power consuption (thanks in large part to higher-energy 3D video devices). I don’t know the present figures, but for example entry-level Dell dsesktop models usually come with a 305-350W (peak capacity) power supply unit (even if many of those systems won’t ever hit that peak), and PSUs of 600W-1.2kW (in systems that actually use a large percentage of this peak power at capacity) are becoming more and more common.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
That is another great use of the energy that would otherwise be wasted. Many of those projects are working towards making a better world. Whether we put that energy to good use through research or not use the energy when it is not needed, both will have a positive impact.
I also had a feeling those energy consumption numbers were on the small side, but even those numbers are right, they are compelling enough for me to change my habbits.