- According to many a website, you should turn off your desktop monitor if you're walking away from it for more than 20 minutes. Turn your computer completely off if you're leaving it for more than 2 hours.
- For laptops, there is usually an energy saving power setting that is great for when you're on the go, or don't need your computer at full power (on a train, between classes, writing papers instead of gaming,etc).
- For more advanced computer users, (or those running XP, its much harder to change power settings there) here are some instructions on using the command prompt to change the power settings for your computer. Some people even recommend changing the power profile on your desktop to that of a laptop so that you use much less energy.
- Turn off that screen-saver! Screensavers were originally developed because on much older monitors, if left on with nothing on the screen moving, the image would burn directly onto the monitor itself (It can still happen, but it takes such a long time that you'll probably never see it). So I know the stars and ribbons look pretty, but its really just an energy waster, and you're probably not watching it anyway, right?
- Set your computer to go to sleep after a while. Instead of the screen saver, set your desktop or laptop to go into a hibernation/sleep state after no activity (usually 30 minutes is a good time period) Your computer will use much less energy that way. I know that I listen to Pandora when I go to bed some nights, and it will stop playing after an hour of no interaction. So my computer is set to go into hibernate after an hour. By then, the music is done anyway!
(What's the difference between Hibernation and Sleep modes? Theres a really good article here that explains the similarities, differences, advantages and disadvantages with the two.)
And just think. With all of these energy savings, you'll save on the energy bill each month!
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