With around 29.5 million laptops and computers in circulation in the UK and just 26.5 million homes, the use of computer technology is clear; but it can also have a massive impact on carbon dioxide emissions. Your choice of computer or laptop could help you to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that are produced through the use of it, alongside reducing the amount of energy it consumes.
Evidently, the more efficient of the two is a laptop, as it uses on average 85% less electricity than your standard desktop PC would do over a year. So, if you don’t use a computer excessively at home and a laptop would be sufficient, then this is a great way to save energy. Laptops save energy as their screens and smaller components use far less electricity than your desktop computer would, saving you approximately £30 per year.
However, if you do need the use of a desktop computer then try to opt for one that is recommended by the Energy Saving Trust (these will normally have a label indicating that they are recommended by them). This will indicate that they have ‘standby’ and ‘sleep’ modes that can be used to preserve energy when you aren’t using it; saving you approximately £58 over its lifetime.
Turning Computer Equipment Off
In the standard UK home there will be routers, broadband modems, printers and computers, and these will account for as much as 13% of electricity used within the household. Therefore, by just turning these items off at the plug when you’re not using them, it could save you a lot of money in the long run. Equally, if you constantly have your laptop plugged into the mains, this can affect the performance of the battery, so when it is fully charged, always unplug it and run the battery down before plugging it back in.
Choosing a Computer Monitor
With the use of all your computer equipment equating to around 13% of your household electricity usage, when you look for a new computer, always check that you are buying one that is recommended as energy saving.
A more energy-efficient monitor could save up to 70kg of carbon dioxide emissions and approximately £18 across its lifetime.
Choosing an Inkjet Printer
Again, when it comes to your printer, try to find one that is more energy-efficient, even if you don’t use it very often.
There are energy saving options for all types of printers, including ones that also fax and scan too, and by choosing one that is more energy efficient it could save you money in the long run and will help you do your bit of the environment.
Have a look for a printer that has a ‘sleep’ mode, as this can save up to 40% of electricity compared to when it is turned on. Equally, when you aren’t using your computer, turn it off at the mains; leaving it plugged in while you’re not using it is only going to waste electricity.
Things to remember when buying computer equipment:
- Don’t leave computer equipment plugged in and turned on at the mains when you are not using this; this wastes a lot of electricity and will only add to your overall electricity bills each month. Try to consciously turn off this equipment when it’s not in use, and get everyone else in the house involved in this too!
- Don’t leave your laptop plugged in at the mains once your battery is fully charged, even if you are using it, as this not only wastes electricity but it can also reduce the effectiveness of your laptop battery, making it less efficient and more energy consuming as you will have to have it plugged in all the time.
- If you do struggle to remember to turn items off at the plug after you have used them, or other people in your household tend to forget, then why not invest in standby savers, which will automatically turn things such as your printer off when the computer it is connected to is not being used.
- If you are looking to buy a new desktop PC, maybe consider buying a laptop, if this is a feasible option for you. Laptops typically use around 85% less electricity than your standard monitor will, saving you £30 a year.
- Check to see how energy-efficient the models of your laptop, computer, printer and other equipment are; by choosing one that has energy saving options such as ‘sleep’ mode you could be saving yourself a lot of money in the long run.
