20 Tips for Environmentally Friendly Computers ala APC

The trend of computer usage in our daily lives, whether for work, entertainment and social activities which result in higher energy use and significant cost increases each year. In connection with the celebration of Earth Day on April 22, 2011, APC by Schneider Electric provides tips on using computers efficiently to save costs, extend life of computer equipment and save the earth.
Here are 20 tips on saving energy in everyday computer use:
1. Turn the computer off at night so that the computer is only used for 8 hours - to save energy use up to 810kWh per year and 67 percent usage.
2. Connect your computer to a surge protector with a master control outlet, which can automatically find out when the computer is not used to and then disconnect power to the computers and equipment.
3. Buy a flat screen - because the flat screen uses less energy and not make the eyes work harder as in the CRT.
4. Buy a computer equipped with Energy Star. For the record, laptops use less energy than desktops.
5. Plan the use of computers so that all activities can be completed in one time, and switch off when not in use agi.
6. Consider using a smaller monitor - the monitor size of 14 inches using 40 percent less energy compared with 17-inch monitor.
7. Turn on standby mode / sleep and energy usage settings.
8. Forget screen savers - screen savers do not save energy but still uses the old monochrome monitor.
9. See re-draft the documents and email on the screen than in print.
10. Turn off the monitor when not in use rather than using a screen saver.
11. Consider using ink-jet printer - although more slowly than using laser printers, but inkjet use 80-90 percent less energy.
12. Buy products based ink from non-plant or oil - because the product is made from recycled sources, require less use of hazardous materials and reproduce colors more bright and clear.
13. Turn off the printer and all other auxiliary devices when not in use.
14. Do not let the computer stays on at night or on weekends.
15. Pick a dark color as the background screen, because the bright color display uses more energy.
16. Reduce the room lighting levels at work using a computer.
17. Use network and share printers whenever possible.
18. Print by using recycled paper. Use a paper that does not use chlorine with 50 to 100 percent post-consumer waste.
19. Print on both sides of the paper.
20. Communication via email as an alternative to the memo and fax.