Computers and Electricity Saving

The use of information technology in the home is constantly increasing the consumption of electricity. A desktop computer that is always ready to use uses as much electricity in a year as an electric sauna.

Laptop computers

Laptop computers on average consume only a tenth of the electricity used by ordinary, desktop computers. Laptop designers have firstly had to deal with the issue of electricity use. In order for laptops to be able to work and be usable and for as long a time as possible, they have been developed to run on a small amount of power, for which they have been equipped with energy saving devices. Energy saving works operates when the laptop is on but is not in active use.

Computers and supplementary hardware

• Buy energy efficient equipment, and check that they carry the Energy Star sign.
• A computer uses as much electricity as all its supplementary hardware, including the screen and keyboard.
• Laptop computers consume on average only 10% of the electricity used by ordinary computers.
• The electricity consumed by a computer in normal use can be reduced by 75% by turning the computer off after you have finished using it.
• Automatic systems that put your computer to sleep can reduce electricity consumption when you are working by a half. Learn how to use the automatic power saving option.
• Switch off your computer when you are not using it.
• Use double-sided printing and copying, because producing the paper uses more energy than printing.