LJWorld Green
KU energy conservation manager urges users to shut off computers when not in use
Craig Hansen, the energy conservation and utility manager for KU's facilities operations department, gives tips on how to save energy by powering down the computer.
September 23, 2008
Advertisement
Craig Hansen, energy conservation and utility manager at KU, hooks up a device in Eaton Hall recently to measure the amount of energy used by a computer.
Most of us have been trained since birth to turn off the lights when we exit a room. When we don't, we can almost hear our parents grumbling in the background that money doesn't grow on trees.
And yet we can walk out the office door guilt free with the computer still humming away.
To Craig Hansen, an energy conservation and utility manager for Kansas University's Facilities Operations, the sin is just the same.
And it's a mindset he is trying to change.
By his calculations, an average personal computer running at full strength sucks up about 100 watts. Running all day, every day for a year, it costs about $60 to power one. The carbon emissions are the equivalent of 88 gallons of gasoline.
Sixty dollars might not sound like a lot. But factor in the 30,000 computers that are estimated to be on KU's campus and you get an energy bill of around $1.8 million.
Of course, not all people leave their computers on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but Hansen believes conservation measures could save the university a significant sum.
Since coming to KU this summer, Hansen has been making the campus rounds with a Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor in tow.
The beige-brown box is to energy what calorie counters are to food. Plug the meter into a socket, connect it to a appliance cord and suddenly you realize your coffee maker is an overindulgent, energy-guzzling pig.
When compared with coffee machines and flat-screen, high-definition televisions, computers aren't the worst energy offenders.
But they are fairly easy targets.
Hansen said at the very least users could change their preferences so that the monitor goes off after one to five minutes of inactivity. The step is something that doesn't typically require administrative approval. And it saves about 30 watts of electricity.
Changing the settings for powering down a computer after longer periods of inactivity can be a little more difficult because many users in office environments don't have the authority to change them. And they can choose between standby or hibernation mode, which can mean different things for different computers.
Hansen said his research indicates that placing your computer in hibernation mode allows you to partially shut down the computer, but still save the documents you were working on and keep them on your desktop. Hibernation mode should be enacted after not using the computer for 20 or 30 minutes, Hansen said.
And, Hansen warns to not be fooled into using screen savers to save on electricity. They can take up just as much, if not more, energy than a fully functioning computer.
He does encourage users to completely shut off their computers - and printers, copiers and fax machines - when they are done for the day.
"When you leave for the day or are gone for the weekend, if you turn your computer clear off, you are automatically saving a 100 watts of electricity," Hansen said. "In these days of increasing electricity costs that can add up over time."
As for now, Hansen is working with IT departments throughout KU to develop a protocol for when computers should be shut down and what mode works best.
As a result, Hansen hopes it will be the younger generation that knows the value of switching off electronic equipment before exiting a room.
Top ads RSS
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Blog: Everybody Knows A Henry July 9, 2009 · 16 comments
- Secular freedom July 9, 2009 · 124 comments
- Police surround Jayhawk Motel, apprehend juvenile robbery suspect July 9, 2009 · 57 comments
- Blog: Songs With The Name Of A State Or City In Their Title Or Lyrics July 7, 2009 · 216 comments
- Tiahrt's plan to repeal federal stimulus would deepen state budget cuts July 9, 2009 · 5 comments
- Sex offender sentenced to two years of probation following no-contest plea July 9, 2009 · 19 comments
- Poll: How much have you trimmed your personal spending in the past year? July 8, 2009 · 9 comments
- Budget crisis felt deeply at KU July 9, 2009 · 53 comments
- Lawrence police release details on three recent sex crimes July 9, 2009 · 23 comments
- Round Corner Drug, Cheese Shoppe closes July 8, 2009 · 104 comments
- Round Corner Drug, Cheese Shoppe closes July 8, 2009
- More than 2,750 turn out for community workout July 8, 2009
- Lawrence Arts Center director announces resignation July 8, 2009
- North Lawrence intersection poised for reconstruction July 8, 2009
- Budget crisis felt deeply at KU July 9, 2009
- Make a financial master list for your will July 9, 2009
- Police surround Jayhawk Motel, apprehend juvenile robbery suspect July 9, 2009
- Oread hotel on schedule for debut in February July 6, 2009
- Rest for the weary July 9, 2009
- Engineering their future: KU camp works to attract girls to science field July 6, 2009
23 September 2008
at 3:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Tbird1 (Anonymous) says…
Do they not understand that turning electronics ON/OFF uses more energy than standby?
23 September 2008
at 3:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Potawatomi (Anonymous) says…
I usually shut mine off when I'm not using it. Sometimes Hibernate. Here is more on the subject.http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/computers.html
23 September 2008
at 4:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
nobody1793 (Anonymous) says…
“Do they not understand that turning electronics ON/OFF uses more energy than standby?”That entirely depends on the length of time it is shut down.
23 September 2008
at 4:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
frwent (Anonymous) says…
Who's computer emits “carbon emissions”?? Sound a bit like the looney liberal left again. I do not know of any computer that runs on 88 gallons of gasoline.
23 September 2008
at 4:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Gareth (Anonymous) says…
Where do you think the electricity comes from, frwent? The mystic Sky-pixie?Electricity –> Power Plant –-> Coal burning –-> Carbon Emissions.Really, it's not hard to figure out.
23 September 2008
at 5:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
beobachter (Anonymous) says…
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusines… your PC off uses more energy than leaving it on. Not true. The small surge of power you use when turning it on — which varies per PC make and model — is still much smaller than the amount you use in keeping it on for lengthy periods.
23 September 2008
at 5:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Larzia (Jake Esau) says…
It is worth noting that a lot of computers have automated tasks that run overnight to keep them running in good shape… virus scans, backups, updates, etc. On any given night I can have up to three tasks run nightly.A good solution to get both the energy savings and still let virus scans and backups run would be to pick a night of the week to leave the computer on, and schedule all tasks for that night.
23 September 2008
at 5:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tanaumaga (Anonymous) says…
frwent, learn more about your carbon footprint please. it takes power to run a computer…somewhere down the line that's producing the emissons…unless you are going swiss family robinson style with the water wheel, then you're cool. swiss family robinson never goes looney left. p.s. you're looney
23 September 2008
at 5:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
compmd (Anonymous) says…
Tbird, that is not always true.
23 September 2008
at 5:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
thebcman (Anonymous) says…
they should also encourage that worthless piece of %$#@ , mr lew perkins, to give his huge salary back, since he doesn't do a &^%$#@! thing.
23 September 2008
at 7:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
JerryStubbs (Anonymous) says…
I have a small laser printer that hums and buzzes when I first turn it on, then it settles down and doesn't seem to use any electricity except for the little green lights. Then when I print a page it comes on again, the fans and motors run as it warms up.I always try to turn my CPU off if I won't need it for a few hours, but I just don't think the printer and monitor really use any juice when they are in 'idle'.Does this seem right? I just think turning the printer on uses more juice because it does that warm up even if I don't print. If I leave it 'on', it only uses juice when I print a page.
23 September 2008
at 7:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
beobachter (Anonymous) says…
thebcman. I recognize your hatred for KU. However, anyone with any understanding of KU finances would realize his salary is not paid by KU. When you get your GED, you might try to enroll and advance yourself.
23 September 2008
at 8:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Tbird1 (Anonymous) says: Do they not understand that turning electronics ON/OFF uses more energy than standby?”Marion writes:No, they don't.I have three boxes on most of the time and sometimes four.When I go to sleep, they go to sleep. I turn on my maintainence programs before I hit it and when those finish, the boxes go beddy-bye.I am working up my solar-powered bank for my boxes, routers and cable modems, which will take my system off the grid and will keep you posted with the progress.