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Methods to Save Electricity?

  • 17-06-2007 10:18pm
    #1
    peustace
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 331 ✭✭


    Hi Guys,
    One or two quick questions
    I leave my computer on for prolonged periods and am wondering if there is any method to save electricity (save from turning it off obviously!!!)?? I've seen a few adapter plugs which switch off perihperals once the pc is turned off but this doesnt seem to be the solution in my case. Any ideas?

    Also I've been looking at the adapters for fridges, where power is no longer supplied once the fridge's motor is working, anyone with any experience of this?
    Any help appreciated
    Thanks
    Pat


Comments

  • #2
    probe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,055 ✭✭✭probe


    peustace wrote:
    I leave my computer on for prolonged periods and am wondering if there is any method to save electricity (save from turning it off obviously!!!)?? I've seen a few adapter plugs which switch off perihperals once the pc is turned off but this doesnt seem to be the solution in my case. Any ideas?
    Have you tuned the power settings in your operating system as tight as possible - (eg display off after 2 mins of inactivity - touch the mouse or keyboard and it is back on, hard disk off after a short period, system standby, hibernation settings, etc)?

    .probe


  • #3
    sarahirl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 119 ✭✭sarahirl


    apart from the power settings i wouldn't have any other suggestions, but you could download boinc and run the climate prediction program. so even though you're using up electricity you're helping scientists predict climate change...
    http://boinc.berkeley.edu/


  • #4
    BendiBus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,074 ✭✭✭BendiBus


    sarahirl wrote:
    apart from the power settings i wouldn't have any other suggestions, but you could download boinc and run the climate prediction program. so even though you're using up electricity you're helping scientists predict climate change...
    http://boinc.berkeley.edu/


    But then wouldn't you be using the CPU @ 100%, thereby generating more heat & using more electricity?

    OP, if you mean you leave the PC on without using it, then make sure to turn off the monitor when not in use, rather than just let it go to standby. Make sure the PC is in a well ventilated area so the fan doesn't work any more than necessary to keep the machine cool.


  • #5
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,972 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Slightly lateral point this, but you might do better just to make sure you don't leave the tv on stand-by, lights on, heat on or fridge door open if you want to save power. Not much can be done with PCs short of switching them off (and ditching the CRT monitor if you still have one).

    Mike.


  • #6
    McSandwich
    Closed Accounts Posts: 593 ✭✭✭McSandwich


    You could try one of these:

    http://www.homeenergysaving.co.uk/intelliPlug.html


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  • #7
    Gurgle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,064 ✭✭✭Gurgle


    peustace wrote:
    I leave my computer on for prolonged periods and am wondering if there is any method to save electricity (save from turning it off obviously!!!)??
    Why do you leave it turned on?

    If you're just downloading massive torrents, get a cheap old low powered PC or laptop and set it up as your download machine.

    If you're encoding video or some such that needs processing power, put your monitor and peripherals on a separate extension lead and just plug that out when you're leaving it.
    peustace wrote:
    Also I've been looking at the adapters for fridges, where power is no longer supplied once the fridge's motor is working, anyone with any experience of this?
    I don't get this one, what does it do?
    Surely if it removes the power the fridge's motor stops working.


  • #8
    sarahirl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 119 ✭✭sarahirl


    McSandwich wrote:
    You could try one of these:

    http://www.homeenergysaving.co.uk/intelliPlug.html

    i use gang plugs and switch off the gang plug when i'm done. does the intelliplug do anything different from this?


  • #9
    McSandwich
    Closed Accounts Posts: 593 ✭✭✭McSandwich


    sarahirl wrote:
    i use gang plugs and switch off the gang plug when i'm done. does the intelliplug do anything different from this?

    The intelliplug switches off slave devices based on the state of the master device. For example, if you power off a computer your screen and printer will be switched off 10 seconds later. This might not seem to have any advantages over switching off the socket, but the intelliplug can also switch off slave devices if the master goes into standby, sleep, hibernate, etc. - saving power where a computer and multiple devices are left plugged in for hours at a time.

    I've just ordered one so I'll post here if it really works (or does not).


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