Reduce Your Energy Bill
One of our primary concerns at GreenStar PCs is the environment. By reducing the amount of electricity you use, not only can you save money, but you also reduce emissions from your local power plant.
Free ways to start reducing your energy bill now
- Adjust the power settings for your computers
- Almost everyone can instantly benefit from adjusting their computer's power options.
- By using sleep mode you can save $25-$75 per year according to the ENERGY STAR web page.
- To learn how to enable sleep mode settings visit Smart Computing's guide to power management.
- Turn your computer off when not in use
- Most home users can benefit from saving up to $100 dollars each year just by turning off the computer when not in use.
- This may not be ideal for all users, visit HowStuffWorks' page on unplugging your computer to find out more.
- Unplug appliances when not in use
- Many appliances will still use energy even though they are turned off
- Find out more at the ACS web page.
- Simply unplugging appliances can help reduce greenhouse emissions by 1000 lbs each year.
- Turn off lights when not in use
- The Department of Energy has some excellent advice when it comes to saving by turning off light bulbs. Click here to learn more.
Even more ways to save
- Switch your lights to CFLs or LEDs
- Compact fluorescent lights use a fraction of the energy traditional incandescent bulbs use. ENERGY STAR information on CFLs here.
- LED lights not only use less electricity, they also last longer and are free of mercury!
- For an objective overview of the pros and cons of each form of lighting visit ProductDose's page here.
- Use smart surge strips
- A surge strip makes unplugging appliances easy. A simple flick of a switch and you are eliminating the phantom charge from being consumed.
- In addition there are smart surge strips that automatically turn off the power to unused appliances, making things even easier.
- Switch from a CRT monitor to an LCD monitor
- LCD monitors use about 1/3 of the energy a CRT monitor uses.
- CRT monitors also contain 4-7 pounds of toxic lead.
- When replacing a CRT monitor make sure you recycle it properly.
- Use a Kill-a-Watt energy meter to monitor energy use
- The Kill-a-Watt energy meter lets you keep an eye on which appliances are using the most electricity.
- It can help you save by keeping you informed about what things in your house are using the most electricity.
- Buy ENERGY STAR approved appliances
- Consider replacing your appliances with ENERGY STAR approved ones once they are ready to be recycled.
- Make sure you properly dispose of old appliances, many places recycle them for free.
- Buy a GreenStar PC
- By using a GreenStar PC, not only are you reducing your energy consumption, but you are also using an overall less toxic product.
- Most PCs on the market today in America are not RoHS complaint, which means they contain lead, mercury, and other harmful toxic substances.
- You can save over $100 by switching your computer to a high-efficiency GreenStar PC.