Over the last couple months, I’ve consciously been keeping an eye on the electric bill for my 2 bedroom apartment after I saw a sudden rise on my bill a from a few months before. I found that small steps can be take to change the power consumption in the apartment.
With a simple change of habits, I’ve noticed a $25 drop on my monthly electric bill.
First, I had switch plugs around underneath my computer table so all my electronics on the table are on one power strip with a power switch. The benefit of having a power switch makes turning things of at the end of the day much easier, instead of climbing to the back of the table and pulling off all the plugs. (After my roommate goes to sleep, I also switch off her power strip. She never remembers, so I have permission.)
Monitor brightness… I don’t know how some people work with their monitor on full brightness. May be my eyes are just very sensitive. The monitor brightness also affects the amount of power you use. Since I often leave my laptop running throughout the day, I make a point to turn off the brightness of my screen even if I was just going to the kitchen to make a coffee or have a cigarette break.
I used to only put my computer on sleep mode when I went to bed. Why? Because I hated having to wait the extra couple minutes for my computer to start. My morning ritual includes checking my email and reading the news before I leave the house. Now, I just power on my computer before I jump in the shower. No more sitting and waiting. I will admit since having a smartphone/iPhone, my habits have changed a little.
Unplugging chargers is a habit I am still trying to break. The convenience of it there and ready to charge is awesome business. I only manage remember to unplug 4 days of the week, so I’m working on it.
Here is a list I found from PC Magazine on tips to save power.
1. Dial down your screen brightness. The brighter your screen, the more power it uses.
2. Turn off your system completely at the end of the day, instead of putting it in sleep mode.
3. If you (still) have a CRT, consider upgrading to an LCD. An LCD uses about 1/3 of the power (and causes less eyestrain to boot).
4. Forgo the screen saver. Most monitors no longer are in danger of having images burned into them, and screen savers actually use up monitor power.
5. If you’ll be away from your computer or other devices for a long period of time (say, while on vacation), consider unplugging them completely.
6. Look for the Energy Star certification when purchasing new computer systems or elec-tronic devices.
7. Enable any power-saving features on your computers, monitors, and peripherals such as printers.
From PC Magazine
Is all this work worth it, you ask? That really depends on how you value your $25.
