Computer Hope

Other => Computer News => Topic started by: soybean on March 29, 2009, 08:25:52 PM

Title: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: soybean on March 29, 2009, 08:25:52 PM
I believe this is the first article I've seen which quantifies the cost of energy consumed by leaving computers on overnight.  The full article is at http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/130078:

Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: Geek-9pm on March 29, 2009, 08:43:55 PM
Yes, that is right. But not just computers. Street lights, Neon signs. All-night Casinos. Think of all the things people do all night. Then they go to sleep in the daytime.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our bodies have some kind of internal clock that would tell us to sleep at night and work in the daytime? 8)

Come to think of it, we already do!  :o
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: jbmwx on March 29, 2009, 08:47:09 PM
or if computers would sleep at night and boot up in the morning? It already knows your favorite things to do on your pc and there's a list of your favorite things waiting on everytime you boot up to an operating system unless you disabled that feature?
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: BC_Programmer on March 29, 2009, 08:51:54 PM
Yes, that is right. But not just computers. Street lights, Neon signs. All-night Casinos. Think of all the things people do all night. Then they go to sleep in the daytime.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our bodies have some kind of internal clock that would tell us to sleep at night and work in the daytime? 8)

Come to think of it, we already do!  :o

unfortunately a select group of people have to keep the world turning at night too- this clock gets a bit screwy with those people- me being one of them.

Although, on the other hand, I haven't used my clocks alarm since I started...
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: Computer Hope Admin on March 30, 2009, 12:02:35 PM
Although I think it is wasteful to leave everything on that doesn't need to be on all night I think the bigger issue is the type of power we're using. If we were all using a clean energy like solar or wind I personally wouldn't have issues with people leaving every light and computer in their house on. :)
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: BC_Programmer on March 30, 2009, 01:00:12 PM
Although I think it is wasteful to leave everything on that doesn't need to be on all night I think the bigger issue is the type of power we're using. If we were all using a clean energy like solar or wind I personally wouldn't have issues with people leaving every light and computer in their house on. :)

AFAIK my entire province get's it's electricity from hydroelectric- I'd call that a clean source.
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: jbmwx on March 30, 2009, 01:52:51 PM
why not get everyone to setup solar cells on rooftops or make transparent solar cells to stick on windows? Harvest all the sunlight when you can and in residential areas, many people work 8 hr days so they're not home to use significant amount of energy or electricity...
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: alexK on March 30, 2009, 02:42:00 PM
Turning Computers off saves $ 2.8 billions.

Turning off/on PC having a CTR monitor and as far as a TV goes will only damage the tube/circuits in the longrun. These should be kept at least in Standby Mode.
As well, unplugging these does not make sense as it will/may throw off the set-up.
As for the cost of letting things run, I  did my own little survey using a BluePlanet Plugin Energy Meter, bought at the local hardware store.
The following is calculated with the Residential (mine) cost per KWh of $0.071

-Webcamera   4 watts   7 hrs   KWh used  0.03   KWh cost $0.002
-PC#1       62 watts   4:17 hrs   KWh used  0.27   KWh cost $0.019
-LapTop      30 watts   2:55 hrs   KWh used  0.10   KWh cost $0.007
-T.V (projection)   141 watts   4 hrs   KWh used  0.57   KWh cost $0.040

and then:
-light bulb            30 watts     -not calculated
-PC#2 off, LCD monitor standby   6  watts   -not calculated
-PC#2 running         72 watts   -not calculated

also:
-Ovens, Baseboard Heaters, Dryers may be the offenders

to correct the annoying Unplugging Myth:
-Toasters, Can Openers, Vacuums do NOT use energy when NOT running.

What do they mean? Turning Computers off overnight worldwide(?) calculated is that on a on a yearly basis????
Saves $ 2.8 billions????

Let's see:
PC#1 would cost me $0.107292 per day to run.  Or $39.16 per year.
Savings projected : $2,800,000,000 / $39.16 per year = 71,501,532 Offending Computers?

Pardon me, if my calculations are correct the whole issue is:

Rubbish!!!!                 
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: BC_Programmer on March 30, 2009, 02:44:01 PM
Quote
As well, unplugging these does not make sense as it will/may throw off the set-up.

only if left off for long periods of time- in which case it's probably in storage anyway.
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: Geek-9pm on March 30, 2009, 02:51:37 PM
The technology is available to make a deep hibernation mode for both Desktop and Laptop computers. It is not new stuff. Nobody takes much interest in doing it  right. When a good implementation of a deep hibernation mode, the computer could take NO poser and would come back to life in 30 seconds or less.
Anyway, I do turn of my computers. When I remember. Sometimes I forget.
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: alexK on March 30, 2009, 03:22:29 PM
I have Antivir PE  installed on all my Pc's.
It has that nice feature "Automatic Shutdown when finished"!
 ;D
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: BC_Programmer on March 30, 2009, 04:00:58 PM
Nobody takes much interest in doing it  right.

regarding hibernation mode I have yet to encounter a laptop that cannot be made to hibernate.


most desktop PCs posess this option as well, depending on their level of ACPI support.
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: alexK on March 30, 2009, 08:16:08 PM
Hibernation is no problem.
To get the stupid thing to Wake Up is something else. I don't trust it for a bit.
It is like an afternoon nap, one never knows.
 ;D
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: BC_Programmer on March 30, 2009, 10:35:02 PM
Hibernation is no problem.
To get the stupid thing to Wake Up is something else. I don't trust it for a bit.
It is like an afternoon nap, one never knows.
 ;D

That's true- and also if the PC is off for a while, and you want to install something new, such as replacing the sound card- hopefully you won't install it while the PC is hibernated...
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: jbmwx on March 31, 2009, 11:05:27 AM
configuring your computer while it's sleeping? Talk about a system shock  :D
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: BC_Programmer on March 31, 2009, 01:34:01 PM
I'm surprised the number of people I know tried this. Then they start it, and can't figure out why it isn't working properly.

you'd think it would blue screen- but I guess when the driver changes power state it has to initialize in the same way- so the driver simply doesn't load. Of course the replacement won't work, and they inevitably call their friend, who unfortunately is me.

After trying to figure it out, they ask, "will I have to reboot?"  ::) *sigh*
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: alexK on March 31, 2009, 03:10:25 PM
We got to look at things from the Bright site.
If there are  71,501,532 Offending Computers in this world (my estimate), then they definitely should be put in to sleeper mode, never wake up and the world saves $2.8 billion.
That money could be put into the coffers of those CEO's currently in distress.
Not bad hey?
Now the next thing on the agenda of elimination is: .....COWS. Yes cows, all they do is drool, fart and belch, ALL DAY!  Not only that, they breath out CARBON DIOXIDE all day. They ruin the atmosphere all day.
Next thing is: 6.5 billion people roaming this world, wasting 2.8 billion on useless Computers that are Awake day and night. Not only that 2.8 billion is wasted, people breath out CARBON DIOXIDE, and most of them fart and belch, ALL DAY!
What we need is a NEW WORLD ORDER:   1) No Computers, ensuring 2.8 billion savings. 2) No more Breathing, Farting, Belching. 3)What is next???

There, I have said it all!!
I better send this note before my Computer goes into "you know what" mode and than I don't become guilty of conspiracy of that 2.8 billion waste.
 ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: BC_Programmer on March 31, 2009, 03:12:37 PM
cows make tasty beef.
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: soybean on April 01, 2009, 09:37:08 AM
What do they mean? Turning Computers off overnight worldwide(?) calculated is that on a on a yearly basis?Huh?              
My goodness there, alexK, you're just having a tizzy over this article, aren't you?  Re: the above quote, did you not read the article?  It said, "An estimated $2.8 billion wasted on excess energy costs each year in the U.S. alone."

Now the next thing on the agenda of elimination is: .....COWS. Yes cows, all they do is drool, fart and belch, ALL DAY!  Not only that, they breath out CARBON DIOXIDE all day. They ruin the atmosphere all day.
Silly boy! I grew up on a dairy farm.  Cows (the dairy type, of course) give milk.  Otherwise, there would be no reason to keep them around.  If you mean cows of the breeds (Angus, Hereford, etc.) used mainly for beef production, well, you see, it's takes male and females (the cows) to keep the species going so that beef can continue to be produced. 
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: jbmwx on April 01, 2009, 06:07:34 PM
Why get rid of cows? If it were not for cows, where would milk and hamburgers that we commonly see come from? You'd have to get your own source and that takes more money and energy. Cows don't just eat and belch all day, if we could get them to pull somie machinery that generates some electricity (like kind of a wind or water turbine) maybe then it would help.....
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: Geek-9pm on April 02, 2009, 10:27:13 AM
Quote
If it were not for cows, where would milk and hamburgers that we commonly see come from?

Ask SoyBean
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: BC_Programmer on April 02, 2009, 10:40:48 AM
LOL! that's a VERY good one, Geek-9pm  ;D
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: flamin on April 02, 2009, 10:16:01 PM
I leave mine on all the time, but I put it to sleep when I don't use it.
Title: Re: Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Post by: Geek-9pm on April 03, 2009, 08:24:03 AM
Quote
I leave mine on all the time, but I put it to sleep when I don't use it.

Which? -your computer or your Cow?   :P