Re: Another interesting piece

["Michael E. Pare" <mep -at- AQUA -dot- WHOI -dot- EDU>]

In reply to this article regarding computer equipment being left on, here are
a couple facts to think about before you rush over to your off switch.

        1.  Most home computers consume less power than two 100w light bulbs
            and put in those terms I doubt very much if the power they are
            consuming is a critical issue.  This article notes the 5% is at
            the commercial level...what has this to do with home PC's...
            nothing.  Just someone ranting and raving and using the wrong
            facts to make a point.

        2.  Powering a computer up and down is the most strenuous activity it
            will face and is the leading cause of failures next to power
            surges...which by the way aren't necessarily eliminated simply by
            powering it off.  The costs saved by powering it down everyday
            will not pay for the repairs to the equipment caused by this
            fatigue.

        3.  The monitor is NOT the largest consumer of power.  The CPU cabinet
            is, so powering off the monitor will not save much.  Most use less
            power than a 60w light bulb.

My guess is there was enough power wasted in posting this message all over the
place as requested to power most of these systems for a long time.

Proper use of electricity is everyone's responsibility, but let's keep to the
facts and not put guilt where it doesn't belong.

        Michael Pare', PE

>Research has shown that the majority of the time that the United
>States' 30 to 35 million personal computers are on, they are not
>actively being used.  In addition, 30 to 40 percent are left running
>at night and on weekends.

>Computer equipment is now the fastest growing private-sector use
>of electricity.  Computers alone are believed to account for five
>percent of commercial electricity consumption, and may account for
>ten percent by the year 2000.

>If you are one of those who leave them on after you're done, it
>would be a big environmental benefit if you would just TURN IT OFF
>when you're not using it.  It only takes a second or two to do.

>Also, the majority of the power your computer uses is not consumed
>by the computer itself, but by the monitor.  If you can't turn the
>computer off, then please just TURN OFF THE MONITOR.

>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has formed an alliance
>with computer manufacturers to promote the introduction of energy-
>efficient PCs that "power down" automatically when not being used
>and thus reduce the air pollution caused by power generation.  These
>new computers will save enough electricity to power both Vermont and
>New Hampshire and save up to 1 billion U.S. dollars in annual
>electricity bills.  Look for the special EPA "Energy Star" logo when
>you buy computers.  They should be available in one to two years.

>According to the EPA studies, the energy saved will prevent CO2
>emissions of 20 million tons annually, the equivalent of five million
>automobiles.  Also, 140,000 tons of SO2 and 75,000 tons of nitrogen
>oxide emissions will be saved; these are the major pollutants
>responsible for acid rain.

>Please do your part ... be responsible.  If you're not using it,
>then just TURN IT OFF.

>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

>Information herein is partially taken from the 1993 "Information
>Please" Almanac, page 573, and the U.S. Envirnomental Protection
>Agency's "Environmental News."

>Please redistribute this message to every computer bulletin board,
>network, memo system, etc. you can think of.  Archive it and post
>it every so often if you can.  Let's get the word out to everyone.
>We need to be responsible about the way we consume.

>Jim Reynolds