Tech It Up in Green!

Computers have become a part of our everyday life. We use them every day, at work and at home to catch up on current events, share ideas and connect with others.  Since they’re a big part of our lives and they consume energy, here are some tips to green your computer:

1. Purchase a Mini Power Minder to kill standby power (also called vampire power), energy consumed by electricity when switched off. The Mini Power Minder will cut off all energy from the computer when it senses that the computer is off.
2. Upgrade all your computer hardware (and possibly any other electronics in your house) to Energy Star qualified products. Read the labels and find out more information when you’re purchasing a new computer.  Keep in mind that LCD monitors typically use less than half the energy that traditional cubical screens (CRTs) do.
3. Be sure to change the settings on your computer to conserve as much energy as possible.  Most computers nowadays come with an “Energy Saver” profile, which helps you save energy while using them. Also, dimming the brightness of your monitor will help reduce energy consumption.

Please consider these ideas when you’re using or thinking about purchasing a computer. Do your part and help make our world greener! Your energy bills will thank you too.