Some general power questions

[beanman101283]

So I'm a single guy renting a townhouse. I watch my money pretty carefully, and part of that is my electricity bill. I try to turn lights out and keep the heat turned off when i'm not home, and i also make sure to turn off my computer when i'm not using it. I turn it completely off, including my monitor and speakers. I'm wondering if anyone knows how much (approximately; i know everybody is different) electricity is saved by letting your monitor and computer go into standby mode instead of turning everything off. Is there enough of a difference between standby and completely off to really impact how much i spend on electricity every month? I've never really been clear on that, and it is slightly annoying to have to boot up my computer whenever i want to use it when i could just move the mouse and bring it out of standby.

 

[InorganicMatter]

Correct me if I'm wrong on the numbers, but I think that computers consume $30/year in electricity. Nothing to worry about at all, especially if it's idling most of the time. Just set your monitor and disks to shut off after a while (I wait 15 minutes) and if you're paranoid set it to standby after an hour or two.

 

[Shmuckety]

This goes under the google response.

 

[Rofl-Mic-Lofl]

Hmm 30a year. I woudl've guessed a bit more. But why even turn your computer off? They're made to work, let 'em fold.

 

[InorganicMatter]

Hmm 30a year. I woudl've guessed a bit more. But why even turn your computer off? They're made to work, let 'em fold.

That number was a few years ago, I'm sure it's higher now with dual-cores and 7800s. Even then, my friend who is an electrician says that computers consume less electricity a year than they do in air conditioning costs induced by the heat output.

 

[beanman101283]

Hmm 30a year. I woudl've guessed a bit more. But why even turn your computer off? They're made to work, let 'em fold.

Yeah, folding is one thing i'd like to do when i'm not around.

I turn my computer off because I'm stingy with my money, and right now it's not working when i'm not around, so there's no reason to have it on.

 

[Shmuckety]

Start folding now. Its very easy. Download the program install put in your username and team 33. Done.

 

[[LYL]Homer]

I leave 3 of my PC's on 24/7 and the power bill difference is about $5/month.

 

[beanman101283]

Start folding now. Its very easy. Download the program install put in your username and team 33. Done.

Ok it's done lol

Homer]I leave 3 of my PC's on 24/7 and the power bill difference is about $5/month.

That's not bad at all.

 

[hodiscuss]

I leave 3 of my PC's on 24/7 and the power bill difference is about $5/month.

So that's about $60/year (decent amount that could be spent on something else)...

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beanman101283

Kill-A-Watt (electricity meter)
This device will let you measure the power usage of the various electrical equipment you use. You could then see what are the big users and where you could concentrate your conservation efforts and maximize the power savings. (You can monitor your PC's electrical usage and decide whether the conservation savings is worthwhile for you.)

[By conserving I have reduced my electrical usage and my monthly electric bill is usually about $30/month. That doesn't include hot water nor heat.]

SAMPLE REVIEW
http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/kill_a_watt_electric_usage_monitor_review

SAMPLE RETAILER
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...89026-6648036?s=electronics&v=glance&n=172282

 

[Rofl-Mic-Lofl]

$5 a month, not bad at all (and that's 3x PCs so your's will be like $2) Just think, either fold or have bittorrrents running non stop definetly.

 

[beanman101283]

Thanks for the links hodiscuss, i'll check that out. That looks like something that could definitely come in handy.