Energy Saving Tips

Green Computing

Green computing is the practice of using computing resources efficiently.  Current research reveals that most personal desktop computers are not being used the majority of the time they are running and many personal computers nationwide are needlessly left on continuously.  Every time we leave computers or lights on we waste electricity.  Burning fossil fuels generates most of our electricity and it also emits pollutants, sulfur, and carbon dioxide into the air. 

We plan to use these pages to expand on energy saving tips when using your computer. 

Please recycle the information you find on these pages by taking these facts about "green computing" and encouraging your fellow students, friends and colleagues to "think green" when using computer equipment.  With everyone's increased cooperation, we can reduce energy costs at Pace University and at home.   And, in doing so, we will help conserve our valuable natural resources.
 

Most Common Computer Myths

	Myth:  It is bad to turn off the computer.
	Truth:  Computers are now designed to handle 40,000 on/off cycles.  This is considerably more cycles than the average users will initiate in the computers five to seven year life span.  Turning your computer off helps reduce heat stress and wear on the system.
	Myth:  Turning your computer off uses more energy than leaving it on.
	Truth:  The surge of power used by a CPU to boot up is far less than the energy used by the unit when left on for over three minutes.
	Myth:  Screensavers save energy.
	Truth:  Screensavers were originally designed to help protect the life span of monochrome monitors which are now technologically obsolete.  Most screensavers do not save energy unless they actually turn off the screen; or, in the case of laptops, turn off the backlight.

*Some of the content on this page has been adapted from Ohio University's 'Green' Computing Guide or that of the University of Colorado at Boulder.