Thread: Using your current PC hug

Make your current PC hug trees?

Using your personal computer judicially and intelligently can lower your electricity bills significantly. Applicable to both desktop and laptop users, these simple to implement tips can prove to be helpful for everybody. Here are a few simple but crucial things that can make you help save the earth (and some money too).

To download a me. finish a task. or perform an automated backup you don't need to leave your PC on all night. You can use the schedule task feature in Windows Vista or XP to wake your computer from sleep mode if you want to perform a regular task like a backup in the middle of the night. If you are downloading a file and tend to keep your PC switched on. then check out Add-ons like Auto shutdown for Firefox and many others. These automatically tu rn off your PC after all files are downloaded.

Even if not a Firefox user. you can find tools like Shutdown After and Winoff to schedule a shutdown. Wnether downloading a file or rendering a video. if you have a rough idea how long it will take to finish the task. You can schedule your PC to shutdown, hibernate, or sleep shortly after the task gets finished.

Though there'm'e many reasons why people avoid upgrading to Windows Vista. but one advantage of upgrading is that Vista offers a more detailed control over your PC's power settings. When running in balanced mode. Vista throttles down the CPU hardware when you're performing less CPU-intensive tasks.

Applications like C02Saver helps reduce power consumption. While running in the background of Windows XP or Vista machines. it adjusts power settings automatically. When the PC is not being used the application kicks into action and lowers your performance settings.

Simple things like turning off your monitor when not using. buying components with energy star ratings can reduce the electricity consumption. Making such things habitual can eventually lower your energy bills dramatically.