Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year

[soybean]

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:

[Geek-9pm]

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?

Come to think of it, we already do! 

[jbmwx]

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?

[BC_Programmer]

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?

Come to think of it, we already do! 

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...

[Computer Hope Admin]

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.

[BC_Programmer]

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.

[jbmwx]

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...

[alexK]

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!!!!                 

[BC_Programmer]

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.

[Geek-9pm]

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.

[alexK]

I have Antivir PE  installed on all my Pc's.
It has that nice feature "Automatic Shutdown when finished"!
 

[BC_Programmer]

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.

[alexK]

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.
 

[BC_Programmer]

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.
 

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...

[jbmwx]

configuring your computer while it's sleeping? Talk about a system shock