Tech Yoda’s Tip of the Week: It's Not Easy Being Green

Computers use a lot of energy!  Here are some ways you can reduce the amount of power you consume:

• Use your computer's power management features so that it enters low energy mode (sleep or standby) when not in use.  You can access these settings by right-clicking on your desktop and going to the screensaver tab.
• Turn off your computer at night or when you leave the office for extended periods.
• Turn off your monitor when not in use.  Those old CRT monitors (the big, heavy, box monitors) use 80% of the energy that it takes to run a desktop computer; a flat panel LCD monitor only uses 40%.
• Screensavers do not save power--in fact, they can actually cause your computer to use more power.  Avoid using them when you can.