SCREEN SAVERS ARE ENERGY WASTERS
Computer screen savers were originally designed to prevent an image from "burning in" on a monitor screen. Unfortunately, screen savers waste large amounts of electricity. A computer monitor uses almost full power all the time the screen saver is active, even if the screen saver is set for "blank screen" mode.
There's a much better way to protect your monitor's screen. Use "power management" software. Most computers come with preloaded power management software that actually turns off the power to your monitor after a preset time period (5 minutes usually works well). All you have to do is find it, and activate it. With power management software, when you press a key or move your mouse the monitor screen powers up in a few seconds right where you left off.
A typical computer monitor uses 60 to 120 watts of electrical power, depending upon screen size. If an estimated 5,000 computers at UNH are currently running screen savers, how much electricity are we wasting?
If the screen savers are active an average of 20 hours per week
(including nights and weekends), here's what we're wasting each year to power those fancy
displays:
28,000 dollars
750,000 pounds of carbon dioxide atmospheric emissions
5,858 pounds of sulfur oxide atmospheric emissions
1,544 pounds of nitrogen oxide atmospheric emissions
24 pounds of uranium concentrate fuel at nuclear power plants
A very important point ! Setting a screen saver to "blank screen" mode does not save much energy. Even though the screen goes black, the monitor still uses almost full power. It's important that you activate true power management software, rather than just setting your screen saver to blank screen mode. CLICK HERE for information to activate power management
Fancy screen savers are NOT cool! You can
stop wasting energy and help reduce air pollution by activating your power management
software.
ENERGY SAVING TIP: Purchase only EPA "Energy Star" designated computer
equipment
Note: If you did not purchase your system as an
integrated package and the monitor does not have an Energy Star logo seal,
call the Help Desk (2-4242) to make sure your monitor is power management compatible
