Comments on: Get off standby http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:29:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Rob http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-6464 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:32:40 +0000 http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-6464 After my last energy bill i began to turn off all stand by power, tv, stereo, cable modems, computers, dvd player etc. I also be came vigilant with turning off lights, short showers, the whole 9 yards, the result was my next electricity bill was down a great deal, a saving of $120.00 dollars, which i put towards offsetting the carbon emissions of my car with greenfleet. After my last energy bill i began to turn off all stand by power, tv, stereo, cable modems, computers, dvd player etc. I also be came vigilant with turning off lights, short showers, the whole 9 yards, the result was my next electricity bill was down a great deal, a saving of $120.00 dollars, which i put towards offsetting the carbon emissions of my car with greenfleet.

]]> by: Grant http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-3006 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 03:57:02 +0000 http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-3006 I agree Belinda. I'm not the best with these things (my stereo and TV stay on most times) but I do try when I can. My computer, in particular, now gets switched off when not in use. The <a href="http://usefulscreensaver.com.au/" rel="nofollow">Earth Hour screensaver's</a> prompting helped (really, it made me realise how much energy was being used. But I haven't managed yet to get other things off standby - mainly due to the location of the power outlets and the expense of power boards with on-off switches per outlet (at around $40 they're about 10 times more expensive and I'm not sure I'll get the benefit of such a premium - perhaps I would?) I agree Belinda. I’m not the best with these things (my stereo and TV stay on most times) but I do try when I can. My computer, in particular, now gets switched off when not in use. The Earth Hour screensaver’s prompting helped (really, it made me realise how much energy was being used.

But I haven’t managed yet to get other things off standby - mainly due to the location of the power outlets and the expense of power boards with on-off switches per outlet (at around $40 they’re about 10 times more expensive and I’m not sure I’ll get the benefit of such a premium - perhaps I would?)

]]> by: Belinda http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-2895 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 03:15:18 +0000 http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-2895 While this is a good idea, I can understand why many people don't do it (including myself). Most of these appliances with standby modes have a clock - having to reset that clock every time you switch it back on is a bit of a pain. For items that don't have any memory affected functions, I will switch them off completely. While this is a good idea, I can understand why many people don’t do it (including myself). Most of these appliances with standby modes have a clock - having to reset that clock every time you switch it back on is a bit of a pain.

For items that don’t have any memory affected functions, I will switch them off completely.

]]> by: Paul Lind http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-2848 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:26:32 +0000 http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-2848 I hope you don't mind the following teaser (what it says is all true). If you would like details or a prototype of the product let me know: I invented a device, an accessory, that can be used by MP3 players, camcorders, digital cameras, laptops, all manor of small appliances, and literally 1,000’s of other electronic devices. And when in use this device does absolutely nothing, zilch, nada. When I first conceived this invention I was embarrassed. I thought how boring, how dull, it does nothing... and then I thought George and Seinfield and the excitement everyone shared over a show about ...nothing! If a show about nothing could excite, why not an invention? So it doesn't have moving parts, just little slots, outlets for electrical prongs... no, not outlets, inlets. Inlets that give rest and safe harbor to the energy draining AC adapters that flow power to electronic devices. So what is the future for a device that does nothing? Will America use it? You bet! When they know, for example, that each time it’s in use is like unplugging a 75 watt light bulb. Conclusion, this “nothing” is one more small; but important step in saving our planet. Thanks for the opportunity---Paul I hope you don’t mind the following teaser (what it says is all true). If you would like details or a prototype of the product let me know:
I invented a device, an accessory, that can be used by MP3 players, camcorders, digital cameras, laptops, all manor of small appliances, and literally 1,000’s of other electronic devices. And when in use this device does absolutely nothing, zilch, nada. When I first conceived this invention I was embarrassed. I thought how boring, how dull, it does nothing… and then I thought George and Seinfield and the excitement everyone shared over a show about …nothing!

If a show about nothing could excite, why not an invention? So it doesn’t have moving parts, just little slots, outlets for electrical prongs… no, not outlets, inlets. Inlets that give rest and safe harbor to the energy draining AC adapters that flow power to electronic devices.

So what is the future for a device that does nothing? Will America use it? You bet! When they know, for example, that each time it’s in use is like unplugging a 75 watt light bulb. Conclusion, this “nothing” is one more small; but important step in saving our planet.

Thanks for the opportunity—Paul

]]> by: Grant http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-1918 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:30:38 +0000 http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-1918 Just found another "myth-busting" post on turning computers off at night: <a href="http://www.greenbiz.com/frame/1.cfm?targetsite=http://tech.yahoo.com/blog/null/14848#see_comments" rel="nofollow">Should I Shut Down My PC At Night?</a> Just found another “myth-busting” post on turning computers off at night: Should I Shut Down My PC At Night?

]]> by: Grant http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-1641 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:59:06 +0000 http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-1641 Hi Susan - yep, turning off your screen(s) is a great idea and definitely saves energy when you need to leave your computer on. The computer's processor is the biggest power muncher - but screens definitely contribute, and every little bit helps... Hi Susan - yep, turning off your screen(s) is a great idea and definitely saves energy when you need to leave your computer on. The computer’s processor is the biggest power muncher - but screens definitely contribute, and every little bit helps…

]]> by: Unused computers cost USD$1.72 billion per year at The future is man made http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-1640 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:57:50 +0000 http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-1640 [...] In the comments of our Get off standby action I did the math to work out how much more power is used in sleep mode than when turned off overnight (and then rebooted in the morning) and it’s more than 20 times the electricity required. [...] […] In the comments of our Get off standby action I did the math to work out how much more power is used in sleep mode than when turned off overnight (and then rebooted in the morning) and it’s more than 20 times the electricity required. […]

]]> by: susan http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-651 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 07:35:53 +0000 http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-651 If switching off the computers overnight is not an option (we have lots of processing and backup running out of hours), you could switch off the screens. I've been told they have quite high power consumption (and i actually have dual screens). This is what I have been doing anyhow. Can someone confirm whether this is a good option? If switching off the computers overnight is not an option (we have lots of processing and backup running out of hours), you could switch off the screens. I’ve been told they have quite high power consumption (and i actually have dual screens).
This is what I have been doing anyhow. Can someone confirm whether this is a good option?

]]> by: Grant http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-496 Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:08:58 +0000 http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-496 Hi Paul - that's a great idea. Also - Lorelle - I found this page: http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/computers.html and I've checked with the folks here, standby definitely chews up more power. Calculating based on the iMac figures in that article (110 watts full power vs. 3 watts sleep) which is less power hungry than some of the other models: Assumptions: - 6pm switch off and 8am start (14 hours) - 1 minute startup time I'll save you the detail - which is a bit hard to represent in a comment like this; much easier on paper ;) - but the results (below) show that starting up a computer uses around 4% of the power of a computer on standby for that length of time - a 96% saving! Startup power consumption: 1.83 watts Standby power consumption: 43 watts The savings seem consistent for other models listed on that page too. So even if it takes a longer to start your computer (say, 2 minutes, which nowadays is rare), you're still saving energy. I hope that helps :) Hi Paul - that’s a great idea.

Also - Lorelle - I found this page:
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/computers.html

and I’ve checked with the folks here, standby definitely chews up more power.

Calculating based on the iMac figures in that article (110 watts full power vs. 3 watts sleep) which is less power hungry than some of the other models:

Assumptions:
- 6pm switch off and 8am start (14 hours)
- 1 minute startup time

I’ll save you the detail - which is a bit hard to represent in a comment like this; much easier on paper ;) - but the results (below) show that starting up a computer uses around 4% of the power of a computer on standby for that length of time - a 96% saving!

Startup power consumption: 1.83 watts
Standby power consumption: 43 watts

The savings seem consistent for other models listed on that page too. So even if it takes a longer to start your computer (say, 2 minutes, which nowadays is rare), you’re still saving energy.

I hope that helps :)

]]> by: Paul http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-100 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:15:01 +0000 http://futuremakers.com.au/get-off-standby/#comment-100 I have a couple of things with long start-up times on a timer set for 1/2 hour before I need them, there is the disadvantage of not always being on if i want to use them but I just re-arrange my time to suit. This way they are off for at least 10 hours a day, and the battery pack which doesnt have an off button is also not drawing electricity. I have a couple of things with long start-up times on a timer set for 1/2 hour before I need them, there is the disadvantage of not always being on if i want to use them but I just re-arrange my time to suit. This way they are off for at least 10 hours a day, and the battery pack which doesnt have an off button is also not drawing electricity.

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