Computers can drain energy, increase monthly utility bills and fill up landfills by the dozens. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans have been found to generate more than five billion pounds of computer waste. Crazy, right? We’ve come up with some easy ways to help you keep your PC eco-friendly, and your wallet just a little bit heavier.
Turn Off the Monitor
For an eco-friendly computer, you will have to analyze the system and determine which part is using the most energy. We find that the monitor uses a heck of a lot of energy, accounting for roughly a third of the actual electrical usage of the entire computer.
For a more energy-efficient monitor, configure the monitor’s sleep feature to automatically power down whenever you are away from the system. This does eliminate most of the energy waste, but not all of it. If you are going to be away from your computer, longer than 20 minutes at a time, you should turn off the monitor all together.
Turn Off Your Screensaver
Screensavers were originally designed to protect older monitors; they aren’t needed for the new versions. Just turn it off. By turning the screensaver off, you could save $25 to $75 a year on energy costs alone.
Enable Power Options
Use energy saving power modes. You can set your PC to either standby or hibernate mode. Standby will use very little power; the computer will go to sleep and then when you return to the computer it will turn on within seconds. Your other option is to use hibernate mode, your computer will not use any power at all in this mode. The system will go to sleep, and wake up once you have returned, but it might take a little longer than if it were in standby mode.
Updating and Recycling
Computers can become inefficient, requiring more effort, time, and generate more heat which all wastes power. By taking care of your PC (or Mac) and performing proper , you can reduce this waste.
Have you come to a fork in the road and think it’s time to say goodbye to your old computer? Recycle it! If you would rather see your old computer go to good use, donate it to local charities, schools or other nonprofits.
If you choose to get a new PC, look for a product that is more eco-friendly. Some models take less energy to function, have more reusable and rechargeable components, or have recycled materials. In addition, it is recommended to purchase a laptop rather than a desktop, as laptops are equipped with more eco-friendly features built in.
If you would like to save a few dollars in the long run and make a contribution to the green community, Geeks on Site and our computer repair services can help you strategize and implement these easy steps. If done right, having an eco-friendly computer at home really is quiet simple!