Electricity costs- computer

[Dollie]

I switch comp on at luncthime and leave it on all day and evening as I often keep going back to it and don't want to keep starting it up (yes - sad I know!) My hubby has complained that the electricity bill has gone up greatly during the last year and he attributes it to me leaving the computer on for about 11 hours a day. Do you know if it would use a lot of electricity and if so - how much - cost wise ? Thanks in anticipation.

[Ethel]

Everything you need to know here:

http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/computer s.html


I tend to leave my computer on if I'm going to be away for less than one hour, put it on standby if less than 4 hours and turn it off completely for longer periods.

I always turn the monitor off if I am away for even 10 minutes - the monitors tend to use a lot of power as a general rule.

[Ethel]

Oh flip - that link is American, so is in dollars. Sorry.

But the principal is the same.

[vehelpfulguy]

Maybe the BILL has gone up but has the amount of electricity used gone up.

Electricity prices have gone up a lot in the last year so it could be that you are using the same amount of electricity but it is just costing more.

Get him to compare the meter readings over the last couple of years.

The cost of having a computer on all day is not great.

Turning your hot water boiler or central heating down one degree will probably save far more money.

[angryparrot]

What kind of monitor do you use? LCD or CRT (the huge ones that have been around for centuries)? CRT's are horrible for power comsumption. LCDs not so much so, but as a general rule, i always turn off my monitor when i'm away from my desk. and I also don't leave my computer running for 11 hours straight.