http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/2009-03-25-pc-power-company-costs_N.htmQuoteBy Jon Swartz, USA TODAYSAN FRANCISCO — Even during an economic meltdown, when companies are scrambling to cut costs, businesses are wasting billions of dollars by leaving their PCs on at night.U.S. organizations squander $2.8 billion a year to power unused machines, emitting about 20 million tons of carbon dioxide — roughly the equivalent of 4 million cars — according to a report to be released Wednesday.About half of 108 million office PCs in the USA are not properly shut down at night, says the 2009 PC Energy Report, produced by 1E, an energy-management software company, and the non-profit Alliance to Save Energy. The report analyzed workplace PC power consumption in the USA, United Kingdom and Germany.Wastefulness does not just affect a company's bottom line, it creates environmental concerns, the report says. If the world's 1 billion PCs were powered down just one night, it would save enough energy to light the Empire State Building — inside and out — for over 30 years, it says."Workers do not feel responsible for electricity bills at work, and some companies insist PCs remain on at night so they can be patched with software updates," says 1E CEO Sumir Karayi. He says 63% of employees surveyed said their companies should take more steps to save PC power."It is scary how much energy is wasted," says Michael Murphy, senior manager of global environmental affairs at Dell, a business partner and customer of 1E. It has used 1E software to efficiently manage its 50,000 PCs globally, saving about $1.8 million a year.Simply shutting down PCs at night can save a company with 10,000 PCs over $260,000 a year and 1,871 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the report says."PCs can be a tremendous drain on electricity," says Doug Washburn, an analyst at Forrester Research. "During a nine-hour workday, it isn't always in use because of lunch, meetings and other things."Raise your hand if you contribute to this expensive laziness*does not raise hand
Use laptop, so I cut it off when I'm not using it.My mother cuts off her computer after use. I need to be more wasteful.
I don't leave my laptop on overnight, but I'll go out or something for a few hours and leave it on. I always plug it out and put it on stand by though so it only uses the battery. Even then the battery is always still at 100% when I get back.QuoteI used to left 5 computers on all night. :|I'd sure hate to see your electricity bill.
I own a laptop and I turn it off when there's no need to use it. I'm patient enough not to have to fuck with hibernation or anything else. I also make sure the adapter is unplugged (also made sure the plug to my old desktop wasn't connected)
Home PC is turned off, always. Cos it's in my room and the noise annoys me. Yes, that low pitched hum is enough to keep me up all night.Work Laptop, depends. Sometimes it's off, sometimes it's on, sometimes it's standby.You know, if they invented a server that could be powered on in 10 seconds rather than 5 minutes we could shut down server rooms too.
Lucky Charat said, March 30, 2009, 06:58:41 amI always shut down and switch off my computer's supply if I am not using it.this.
I live pretty much next to one of the biggest hydro-electric power station in the world, so... no, I don't feel ashamed for leaving it on. I turn off the laptop LCD, though.* Beatrice raises hand.
Just No Point said, March 30, 2009, 05:40:27 amNow how am I supposed to leech or seed torrents with my computer off? O_oExactly that's the problem with turning it off for me.
I shut down my PC at night, it's only on when i'm present in the house or if i'm buying groceries which takes 10-15 minutes.
all that carbon dioxide...I think I'll buy a plant and post it in the room. the bioelectronic circle of life.
Trivia : One puny plant can hardly suck up 10% of the CO2 emitted by computers, you need a dozen potted plants.
I sometimes left it on for an extra three hours or so to advance some downloads, because I used to have a monthly download limit and traffic from 1 to 9AM didn't add up to that limit. That was rare though, and ended now that the limit's gone.
My main reason why I do it BTW is because of the DLs, and Torrents. I wake up using my computer's alarm clock. If I didn't I could wake up in 12 noon
I always leave my home computer on during nights as well as the whole weekend, turning off the monitor if I am not in front of it. On the other hand I alwasy turn it off at the office if I am not using it, we satrted turning off the server as well.
Done it couple of times. Just to seed and leech torrents. Turn off LCD screen though because you dont want to burn screen.
I've only ever done it once, whilst downloading Garry's Mod. Looking back on it, there kinda wasn't any need, since I could've paused the download... Meh.
