In part one of this 5 part series, we explored the first reason why it’s best to turn off your computer at night (or when it’s not in use, such as when you go out of town).  To read the first part of this series, click here:  Read Part One

In part two, we discussed the value of giving your components some rest on a regular basis.

Today, we will get right down to part three!

Consider the cost of operating a computer 24/7/365.  Even when it’s not in use, a computer is working and using electricity.

The third reason why you should power down your computer at night, is to give yourself a direct savings on your energy bill… and help the environment in the process!

Here is an example of how much money you could be saving by turning off your computer, when you sleep at night:

Using the example of an average 200W computer (and electricity at $0.075 per kWh), NOT turning your computer off at night would cost you about $125 per year.  This is for full-time operation. 

Turning your computer off while you sleep, eat dinner, and watch television might chop that number in half (for the sake of round numbers).  Cutting it down only 12 hours per day would bring the cost down to about $60 per year, saving you about $60 per year, per computer.

If you work 8 hours per day, commute about hour per day, and sleep 8 hours per day, and watch television 1 hour per day, perform other random duties for an hour (shop, eat, clean, read) you might be able to bring your total cost of computer operation down to less than $25 per year.  Saving you $100 per year per computer.

The same can apply to an office, but the difference is that many offices have multiple computers.  By changing one little office habit, you could dramatically reduce your utilities bill, play a major part in reducing your environmental footprint, and help make employees a little happier.

Here’s what I mean…

An office that decides to power off it’s computers at the end of the workday and leaves them powered off the entire weekend could bring their costs down to less than $30 per computer for the year…. a savings of almost $100 per computer, per year!  Imagine now, how happy your office staff would be if you then gave them an additional $100 bonus on their Holiday check.  Talk about boosting morale!

Welcome Back! Since you have visited a few times now, why not leave a comment?