I read somewhere that shutting down the computer can save more energy than leaving the computer on stand by mode or putting it in hibernate. I wonder how that is because I always thought that the main reason for the computer’s hibernation and stand by mode is basically to save on energy.
I tried to see if it will really make a difference if I turn off my computer. I don’t have the habit of turning off my computer during breaks because I find it a little bit time-consuming booting up the computer. Yeah, I realize I can be impatient. But, since I discovered the energy-saving tip, I have been turning off my computer during break time even if it will only be an hour that I’ll be away.
There are 5 of us in the office and we started a little experiment just to see if shutting down the computer can make a difference in the electricity bill. While there is not a big drop in the electricity bill, I can say there’s a slight difference. Out electricity bill lowered by more or less 5% of our regular consumption.
But think if all computers in all offices in Manila shut down all the computers during lunch time. With one office, the difference may be very minimal but think if all offices in Manila lower their energy consumption by 5% by just shutting down the computers, I think it can be a pretty big energy savings for the whole country.
I wonder how much money is saved with just a few clicks of the mouse? Well, I can’t find any info on the internet. The only thing I found is this article that says that every year, $217 million is wasted in UK because of PCs that were not shut down or were in hibernation mode over night. The whole night is longer than an hour of break but I can tell shutting down all computers in all the offices in Manila can also save millions of dollars for the country.
I should really start a drive or something encouraging the shut down of the computers during lunch breaks . . just a thought. . .