Energy is Money

This is the time of year that we begin to release a huge sigh of relief. The temperature is beginning to recede, and this can translate into lower electricity bills. There are small adjustments that computer owners can make that will reduce their electric bill a little more, and having a lower electrical bill is usually a welcomed thing.
Starting from the outside, there are several ways to reduce the amount of energy that your computer consumes. It is important to go in with the mindset that small amounts of energy usage combine to create real dollars and cents on an electric bill. Even when you shut down your computer, it’s peripherals may still be drawing a current as long as they are plugged into an outlet. The obvious first step is to unplug the computer and peripherals when they are not in use. This not only includes the computer and monitor, but also the printer, router, speakers, and modem. Ideally all of these devices will be plugged into the same surge protector, so you can simply pull one plug. Realistically, I know that this may not be practical for all users. Dealing with issues like reestablishing an Internet connection every time that you plug the surge protector in would get old fast. There are other less annoying measures that can be taken. For about $15 you can purchase a power minder that switches the power completely off when devices are shutdown. Then you can plug your modem into another outlet.
On the software side of things, changing various settings can halt the flow of excess energy that your system is using. In the age of large flat screen monitors, it is a must to dim the brightness of the monitor. Doing this in conjunction with altering screen saver settings will go a long way to reducing power consumption. As a general rule of thumb, screen savers should be set to begin after 5 minutes if inactivity. Those truly concerned with cutting power usage corners will choose the all black blank screen saver as it is the most energy efficient. These changes can be made by selecting the Display or Display and Appearances icon in the Control Panel.
Another settings must is the Powers Options header that can be found in the Performance and Maintenance menu in the Control Panel. It is here that you can set when or if to shut down the hard disk and monitor. You can also set the time limits for Hibernation and Standby mode. Setting any of these options to 10 to 20 minutes can reap dividends for you.
For those that are in the market for a new system, low power machines and monitors should get a serious look. These changes create small inconveniences, but larger monthly savers. They also help to reduce the normal wear and stress on your system from the heat that the computers naturally produce.