If you wonder about when you should turn off your computer for energy savings, here are some guidelines to help you make that decision.
Even though there is a small surge in energy when a PC or a MAC starts up, this small amount of energy is still less than the energy used when a computer is running for long periods of time. For energy savings and convenience, consider turning off the following:
- the monitor if you aren’t going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes
- both the CPU and monitor if you’re not going to use your PC for more than 2 hours.
Make sure your monitors, printers, and other accessories are on a power strip/surge protector. When these items are not in use for extended periods, turn off the switch on the power strip to prevent them from drawing power even when shut off. If you don’t use a power strip, unplug extra equipment when it’s not in use.
Most PCs reach the end of their “useful” life due to advances in technology long before the effects of being switched on and off multiple times have a negative impact on their service life. The less time a PC is on, the longer it will “last.” PCs also produce heat, so turning them off reduces building cooling loads.
For cost effectiveness, you should also consider how much your time is worth. If it takes a long time to shut down the computer and then restart it later, the value of your time will probably be much greater than the value of the amount of electricity you will save by turning off the computer multiple times per day.