It had to happen sooner or later. We’re finally starting to see triple digit temperatures across south Texas. That means a lot of us have our air conditioners going full blast right now.
So now that you’re using your AC at peak levels, it’s time to talk about other things you can do to save money on your electric bill. Every dollar counts, right?
Today we’re going to focus on your computer. Did you know it actually affects your cooling costs? It does – and the Department of Energy has a couple of rules of thumb about when it’s best to leave the computer on…or turn it off.
- Turn your monitor off if you’re going to be away for 20 or more minutes.
- Turn your computer and monitor off if you’re going to be away for two or more hours.
- Otherwise, use sleep mode, if your computer has it.
The DOE says there actually is a burst of energy used when a computer starts up; so don’t turn yours off unless you’re going away for a period of time. Sleep mode, according to the DOE, uses about 70% less energy than a regularly functioning computer.
One last thing – screen savers may save your screen, but they don’t save energy. In fact, the DOE says screen savers may actually use more energy than just leaving your computer alone.
These tips won’t let you retire early but, as we said, every dollar will count when you get that next electricity bill in the mail.
