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2006, 2007, & 2008
Q&A with your Coast Electric Energy Efficiency Expert
Each month, one of Coast Electric's experts will answer a question about energy efficiency in your home. Our experts will use their knowledge to help you save on your electric bills. After all, the greenest power is the power not used.
April
This month's question is answered by Coast Electric Senior Marketing Representative Scott White..
Q: When should I turn my computer off to save energy?
A: While a small surge in energy consumption
occurs when a computer
starts up, this hardly compares to the
amount used when a computer runs
for a long time. For
energy savings and
convenience, consider
turning off the monitor
if you aren’t going
to use your PC for
more than 20 minutes,
and switch off
both the CPU and
monitor if you’re not
going to use your PC
for more than two
hours.
Make sure monitors,
printers and
other accessories are
plugged into a power
strip/surge protector.
When not using
equipment for extended periods, turn
off the switch on the power strip to
prevent any power drain. If you don’t
use a power strip, unplug extra equipment
when it’s not in use.
Most PCs today reach the end of their useful life due to advances in technology long before any negative effects of being switched on and off multiple times can be seen. But as a general rule of thumb, the less time a PC is on, the longer it will “last.” PCs also produce heat, so turning them off reduces the need for air conditioning.
Many PCs come with a power-down
or sleep mode feature for the CPU and
monitor. ENERGY STAR® computers
consume 15 watts or less in this mode –
around 70 percent less electricity than a
computer without power management
features. ENERGY
STAR® monitors also
have the capability to
power down into two
successive sleep modes,
first to 15 watts and then
to 8 watts – less than 10
percent of its operating
power consumption.
Keep in mind that screen
savers are not energy
savers. Using a screen
saver may in fact require
more energy than not
using one, and your
power-down feature may
not work if you have a
screen saver activated. In
fact, modern LCD color
monitors do not need screen savers.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy
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