How much electricity do computers use?
A typical desktop computer uses about 65 to 250 watts. To find the figure for your particular computer you can contact the manufacturer (not me), or see my section on measuring electrical use.
With most devices you can look at the label to see how much energy they use, but that doesn't work so well with computers because the label gives the theoretical maximum, not the typical amount used. A computer whose label or power supply says 300 watts might only use about 70 watts when it's actually running, and only 100 even in peak times with serious number-crunching and all the drives spinning.
As long as your computer goes into sleep/standby when you're not using it, your computer doesn't use squat for electricity, compared to the rest of your household. You'll save a lot more energy by addressing your heating, cooling, and lighting use rather than obsessing over your computer. For most people, their computers' energy use is not a significant portion of their total use, even if they use their computers a lot. Of course, you should absolutely make sure your computer is set to sleep automatically when you're not using it, because it's silly to waste energy, but your computer likely isn't even close to being the biggest energy-waster in your home.
How much it costs to run your computer
To calculate your costs use this formula:
Watts x Hours Used x Cost per kilowatt-hour = Total Cost
1000 For example, let's say you have a big high-end computer with a gaming-level graphics card and an old CRT monitor, and you leave them on 24/7. That's about 330 watts x 24 hours x 365 days/yr = 2,890,800 watt-hours, or 2891 kilowatt-hours. If you're paying $0.14 per kWh, you're paying $405 a year to run your computer.
Let's try a different example: You have a computer that's less of an energy hog, like in iMac G5 20", which uses about 105 watts, and you're smart enough to turn it off when you're not using it. You use it for two hours a day, five days a week. That's ten hours a week, or 520 hours a year. So your 105 watts times 520 hours = 54,600 watt-hours. Divide by 1000 and you have 55 kilowatt-hours (kWh). If you're paying 10¢ per kilowatt-hour, then you're paying $5.50 a year to run your computer.
That's quite a range, $5.50 to $405 a year. It really depends on what kind of computer it is, and how much you use it -- and especially whether you sleep it when you're not using it. Both the examples above are extremes. I used to have only one example somewhere in the middle but then I'd see people on blogs and messageboards misquoting it by writing, "Mr. Electricity says a computer costs about about $150/yr. to run" No, that is not what I said. I said that was just an example. Your situation is almost certainly different, and you need to consider all the variables, like what kind of computer it is, how much you use it, and most especially whether you leave it running all the time or sleep it when you're not using it.
Factors that affect energy use
Add another 35 watts for an LCD monitor, or 80 watts if you have an old-school CRT. Don't forget related devices. My cable modem uses 7 watts, my D-Link DI-604 router uses 4.5 watts, and my Motorola phone box for use with Vonage uses 2 watts while idle (3 when I'm on the phone).
Laptop computers use about 15-45 watts, far less than desktops.
Sleep & Screensavers
When your computer sleeps (aka "standby", "hibernate") the computer uses 0-6 watts. (So does the monitor.) You can set your computer to sleep automatically after a certain amount of idle time.Setting your computer to auto-sleep is the best and easiest way to save on computer energy use! Here's how to do it:
A screensaver that shows any image on the screen doesn't save any energy at all -- you save energy only if the monitor goes dark by going to sleep. If you turn the monitor off at the switch it will use 0 to 10 watts. (Some electronics equipment draws a small amount of energy even when it's switched off.)
Specific Models
Macs have generally used less energy than PC's, though I haven't tested any Macs since Apple made the switch to Intel processors. If any Mac users would like to send me their readings, tested with a watt-hour meter, I'll be happy to publish the numbers here.
Below is how much energy Dell computers use, according to their website in 2006, and how much my Apple iMac G5 uses based on my measurements. I would have included some HP desktops in the table but HP hasn't bothered to update its website with the energy consumption for current models in over four years. For Dell models not listed below try a Google search using this format: site:dell.com b110 wattsReplace the "b110" with the model you're searching for, of course.
Don't write to me to ask me how much your particular computer uses, because I didn't make your computer and unlike you, I don't have access to it. Contact the manufacturer or buy a watt-hour meter.
READ more : Sorce
A typical desktop computer uses about 65 to 250 watts. To find the figure for your particular computer you can contact the manufacturer (not me), or see my section on measuring electrical use.
With most devices you can look at the label to see how much energy they use, but that doesn't work so well with computers because the label gives the theoretical maximum, not the typical amount used. A computer whose label or power supply says 300 watts might only use about 70 watts when it's actually running, and only 100 even in peak times with serious number-crunching and all the drives spinning.
As long as your computer goes into sleep/standby when you're not using it, your computer doesn't use squat for electricity, compared to the rest of your household. You'll save a lot more energy by addressing your heating, cooling, and lighting use rather than obsessing over your computer. For most people, their computers' energy use is not a significant portion of their total use, even if they use their computers a lot. Of course, you should absolutely make sure your computer is set to sleep automatically when you're not using it, because it's silly to waste energy, but your computer likely isn't even close to being the biggest energy-waster in your home.
How much it costs to run your computer
To calculate your costs use this formula:
Watts x Hours Used x Cost per kilowatt-hour = Total Cost
1000 For example, let's say you have a big high-end computer with a gaming-level graphics card and an old CRT monitor, and you leave them on 24/7. That's about 330 watts x 24 hours x 365 days/yr = 2,890,800 watt-hours, or 2891 kilowatt-hours. If you're paying $0.14 per kWh, you're paying $405 a year to run your computer.
Let's try a different example: You have a computer that's less of an energy hog, like in iMac G5 20", which uses about 105 watts, and you're smart enough to turn it off when you're not using it. You use it for two hours a day, five days a week. That's ten hours a week, or 520 hours a year. So your 105 watts times 520 hours = 54,600 watt-hours. Divide by 1000 and you have 55 kilowatt-hours (kWh). If you're paying 10¢ per kilowatt-hour, then you're paying $5.50 a year to run your computer.
That's quite a range, $5.50 to $405 a year. It really depends on what kind of computer it is, and how much you use it -- and especially whether you sleep it when you're not using it. Both the examples above are extremes. I used to have only one example somewhere in the middle but then I'd see people on blogs and messageboards misquoting it by writing, "Mr. Electricity says a computer costs about about $150/yr. to run" No, that is not what I said. I said that was just an example. Your situation is almost certainly different, and you need to consider all the variables, like what kind of computer it is, how much you use it, and most especially whether you leave it running all the time or sleep it when you're not using it.
Factors that affect energy use
Add another 35 watts for an LCD monitor, or 80 watts if you have an old-school CRT. Don't forget related devices. My cable modem uses 7 watts, my D-Link DI-604 router uses 4.5 watts, and my Motorola phone box for use with Vonage uses 2 watts while idle (3 when I'm on the phone).
Laptop computers use about 15-45 watts, far less than desktops.
Sleep & Screensavers
When your computer sleeps (aka "standby", "hibernate") the computer uses 0-6 watts. (So does the monitor.) You can set your computer to sleep automatically after a certain amount of idle time.Setting your computer to auto-sleep is the best and easiest way to save on computer energy use! Here's how to do it:
- In Windows XP go to Start > Control Panel > Power Options
- On a Mac go to SystemPreferences > Energy Saver
A screensaver that shows any image on the screen doesn't save any energy at all -- you save energy only if the monitor goes dark by going to sleep. If you turn the monitor off at the switch it will use 0 to 10 watts. (Some electronics equipment draws a small amount of energy even when it's switched off.)
Specific Models
Macs have generally used less energy than PC's, though I haven't tested any Macs since Apple made the switch to Intel processors. If any Mac users would like to send me their readings, tested with a watt-hour meter, I'll be happy to publish the numbers here.
Below is how much energy Dell computers use, according to their website in 2006, and how much my Apple iMac G5 uses based on my measurements. I would have included some HP desktops in the table but HP hasn't bothered to update its website with the energy consumption for current models in over four years. For Dell models not listed below try a Google search using this format: site:dell.com b110 wattsReplace the "b110" with the model you're searching for, of course.
Don't write to me to ask me how much your particular computer uses, because I didn't make your computer and unlike you, I don't have access to it. Contact the manufacturer or buy a watt-hour meter.
READ more : Sorce
Code:
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/computers.html
