Computers are a great invention, but when left idling for hours, they contribute to the greenhouse gas problem. A computer left on all day, every day uses nearly 1,000 kilowatts of electricity over a year. A computer that is switched off at the end of the day uses less than 250 kilowatts:
- Set your computer to enter power saving mode after 10 minutes of inactivity - this could cut its energy use by 60-70%
- Switch screensavers to "none" or "blank"
- Shut your computer down if you are not going to be using it for more than an hour or two.
- Do not leave your computer on overnight;
- Locate your power points where they can be seen and turned off easily;
- Unplug your computer at the end of the day - it uses small amount of electricity even when finally shut down. This is the same for some electrical appliances and electronic equipment such as phone chargers using standby energy.
Turning off the monitor screens at the end of the day, turning off power of all equipment and turning the lights off there were savings of 20-25% in 2007-2008 compared to the usage for the previous year . Crawford Architects
