Personal computers are kept on during the night and weekends, and idle up to 90 percent of the work day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The most commonly used electronic devices, computers account for two percent of all U.S. electricity use.

Consider the following: The average Dell desktop uses 85 watts to idle, even if the monitor is off. If it is only in use or idling for 40 hours instead of 168 a week more than $40 worth of energy costs are saved a year.

It is possible to reduce your computer's energy consumption by 80 percent, according to the Green Computing Guide by the University of Colorado at Boulder. The guide lists ways to reduce energy usage, including not using a screen saver, particularly a moving screen saver. A screen saver with moving images causes the computer to consumer as much energy as it does when it is active. Instead, turn off your computer when it is not in use.

Enable your computer's power management features. Michigan State University's Green Computing Guide includes instructions for enabling power management features:

Windows (2000, XP)

Right click on your desktop and a dialog box appears.

Select properties

Select "screen saver" tab

Select "energy saving features"

Select "settings"

Select the number of minutes you would like to keep your computer and monitor on before it powers down*

Windows (Vista)

Go to the control panel and type the word "power" in the search box

Click on "change power-saving settings"

Click on "create a power plan"

Choose a standard plan as a base for the one you create and then type a name for it. Click "next" and select when to put the monitor and computer to sleep*

Click on the Create button

Instructions for Vista are from:

http://www.vista4beginners.com/power-management

Macs (OS7.1 - OS9, OSX)

Click on Apple icon

      Select "control panels" in OS9 and "system preferences" in OSX

      Select "energy saver"

      Select "show details" in OS9

      Check separate timing for display sleep

      Select the number of minutes you would like to keep your computer and monitor on* 

      *The guide recommends 20 minutes for monitor sleep and 30 minutes for system

        sleep.

Purchasing a new computer?

When you think of buying a computer, determine if you really need a new one. If you decide you do need a new computer, buy an "Energy Star" certified one (including monitor and printer). Buy the size monitor you really need because the larger the monitor the more energy it uses.

Should you buy a PC or a Mac? A desktop or a laptop? Macintosh computers use "substantially lower electricity" than PCs, according to MSU's guide. Laptops use 80 percent less energy than desktops.

Make sure the computer you want to buy is certified through the Green Electronics Council's EPEAT certification program. According to the Green Electronics Council, there are many environmental benefits to EPEAT purchases:

• Reduce use of primary materials by 75.5 million metric tons, equivalent to the weight of more than 585 million refrigerators
• Reduce use of toxic materials, including mercury, by 3,220 metric tons, equivalent to the weight of 1.6 million bricks
• Eliminate use of enough mercury to fill 482,381 household fever thermometers
• Avoid the disposal of 124,000 metric tons of hazardous waste, equivalent to the weight of 62 million bricks.

EPEAT rates computers, including monitors with 23 required criteria and 28 optional criteria, and certifies them with three levels: bronze, silver, or gold. A bronze certification means the computer met all required criteria, a silver certification means it met all required criteria plus 50 percent of the optional, and a gold certification means it met all required criteria plus 75 percent of the optional. EPEAT rates four areas: energy efficiency, ease of recyclability, reduced or eliminated use of toxic chemicals, and longevity of products.

Related Reading:
New Years Resolutions: Scavenger Hunt Edition
Computers Remapping the World for Alternative Energy

Image Credits:
KimberlyFaye
VintFalcon