Computer Energy Saving Tips
| Click here for a complete side-by-side comparison of 17" LCD Flat Panel Monitor |
 |
|
You may also be interested in these review sites...
|
Computers and monitors have evolved. In the past, screen savers were installed and computers were left on all of the time; however, newer monitors do not suffer from burn-in or permanent etching like the old kind. With that in mind, here are a few energy saving tips for monitors and computers:
- Configure your monitor to turn off after 20 minutes (or less) of inactivity, and your hard drive to turn off after 30 minutes of inactivity.
- Shut down your computer, monitor and printer or set them to standby mode when you leave the office for more than two hours.
- Screensavers are not energy savers; they continually use the monitor at full power.
- If you buy a new computer, consider a laptop if possible. Laptops use less energy than a desktop and are suitable for most people, unless you do a lot of typing.
- Consider a flat panel. They use only 1/3 the energy, some as little as 30W or 1W on standby.
- Windows ME and Windows 2000 have a system hibernate feature, which performs a save before it shuts down. When reactivated, everything is restored exactly. In Windows XP go to Control Panel and then Power Option Properties to set preferences.
- Off-the-grid solutions-portable solar panels are available that can work with laptops, see www.realgoods.com.
References
Computer power management. (n.d.). Retrieved Apr. 03, 2006, from Tufts Climate Initiative Web site: http://www.tufts.edu/tie/tci/powermanagement.html.
Energy saving guidelines for personal computers. (n.d.). Retrieved Apr. 03, 2006, from Information Technology Services Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/its/docs/energy.html.
©2003 – 2008 TopTenREVIEWS, Inc.
