For instance, a laptop only uses a third as much as a desktop:Ī complete desktop uses an average of 200 Watt hours (Wh). The power consumption of a computer of course depends on the model and the way it is used. Please shut them off nights and weekends along with your computer.Remember that stand-by mode uses power, too! Printers also use a significant amount of energy: particularly laser printers. Pull down the 'Screen Savers' list and choose 'Blank Screen.' Set the 'Wait' time for the period you choose.ĭon't forget about the printers. Since screen savers actually force the computer to use energy to run them, you can save energy by setting the monitor to blank out after a specified period. We suggest you do this before lunch, before long meetings and any time you expect to be away from your desk for more than a half-hour. This does not affect your operations, just switch it back on when you return. You can save as much as two-thirds of a computer's energy use just by turning off the monitor. Turn off the monitor when you will be gone. If you can't turn off the CPU, you can always save energy by just turning off the monitor. Please turn the whole system off each night. Tips to Save Computer Energy Use Shut the computer off at night. Please use this time to check your voice mail or conduct other tasks. Myth # 6: It takes a long time boot up every morning.Īlthough it may seem like a long time to wait when you are staring at the screen, it only takes 1-2 minutes for your computer to boot up. In fact, turning it off overnight and on weekends can actually extend the life of your equipment. Myth # 5: It is better to leave hard drives running because shutting them down puts added stress on the machine.Ĭontrary to popular belief, leaving computers on is not good for the equipment. In fact, screen savers use considerably more energy than a blank screen. Screen savers are meant to save the monitor pixels from burn-out, not save energy. In fact, most monitors consume about two-thirds of a computer's total energy use.

Myth # 3: If you shut your hard drive off, it doesn't matter if the monitor is left on. Put another way, we would save the energy equivalent to that used by 20 typical households. If all computers were turned off each night and weekend, the City would save about 20% of that cost. Myth # 2: Operations costs for computers are minimal.Įlectric power for the City’s computers cost about $46,000, or $38 per year for each computer. In addition to their direct energy use, computers generate significant heat which adds to the buildings' air-conditioning load over much of the year. The City’s 1,200+ computers use an estimated 800,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year-the equivalent of about 100 typical households (assuming only 10% are left on each night). Computers, as a group, use the most energy of all office equipment. Office electronics are the fastest growing use of electricity in commercial buildings in the United States. Warner Park Community Recreation CenterĪ few myths about computers and energy Myth # 1: Computers don't use much energy.Planning, Community & Economic Development.Computer Energy Saving Tips - Residents - Sustainability - City of Madison, Wisconsin Skip to main content City of Madison

Leave computer on all night screen burn