Turn It Off

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Quick Facts Affordability Cost Savings CO2 Reduction		Affordability Switching off your electronic devices and computers is free. For greater ease, you can set up your components on a power bar and simply switch it off when not in use. Post a note next to your computer monitor or other devices to remind yourself to turn them off. Cost savings Turn off unused electronics and the savings add up. A household that turns off one TV, one video game console and one computer when they are not being used, for an average of four hours per day, could save more than $40 a year in energy costs. Health & comfort Turning off your computer and electronic devices is easy and does not compromise use or performance of your equipment. You can enjoy greater savings without sacrificing product performance. Environmental consideration Cutting down on energy use reduces CO2 emissions and slows demand for new power projects.

What you need to know

If your computer must be left on when you are not using it, make sure that you enable the "sleep" or "power save" mode. At full power, your computer and monitor probably draw about 125 watts (W) of power; in sleep mode, they would use about 10 W.

To help you make the choice between turning your computer off and using its power management features, here are some guidelines:

• Turn off the monitor if you are not going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes.
• Turn off both the central processing unit (CPU) and monitor if you're not going to use your PC for more than two hours.

Other tips

• Make sure your computer, printer and other peripherals are connected to a power strip or surge protector. When you are finished using it, you can turn off the switch to prevent them from drawing phantom power. If you do not use a power strip, unplug the equipment when not in use.
• Read the manual. Your computer or other home office equipment may already incorporate some power management options. Read the owner's manual for each piece of equipment you use. Information on power management features is often provided in a chapter dedicated solely for this purpose. If you do not have the manual, power management features can often be accessed under “power options” in your computer’s “control panel.”

Taking it further

• If you are considering purchasing a new TV, Consider an ENERGY STAR® TV, which uses about 30% less energy than a standard unit and is rated to consume 1 W or less when switched off. Learn more about shopping for TVs in the Buy Green Electronics tip in this guide.  
• Buy a laptop. A typical laptop computer has a maximum power consumption of 15 W and extensive power management capabilities. A typical desktop PC, with display, consumes about 10 times that, or 150 W, and has less effective power management features. The potential energy savings from substituting PCs with portable laptops are significant, particularly if you do not plug the laptop into a separate display monitor. If you have the choice between using a laptop or desktop computer, use the laptop to save energy.

FAQ

Does turning my computer on and off stress the components?
No, constant start-ups do not damage computer components. It is more cost-effective to shut the computer down when you are finished using it and doing so will reduce wear on your system.

Does my computer use zero energy if turned off?
No, unless it is unplugged. A computer still uses 2.3 W to maintain local area network connectivity. In “hibernate” mode, a computer uses approximately 2.3 W, but in “sleep” mode, it uses approximately 3.1 W. Monitors, however, use zero energy when turned off.

Do screen savers save energy?
Screen savers are not an energy-efficient feature. Some screen savers actually use additional electricity to create complex graphics. If you use a screen saver, be sure your monitor is set to display images for a predetermined period of time and then enter sleep mode.