What is this gadget?
It's a Google Desktop gadget for Windows XP and Vista that helps you save energy by minimizing your PC's power consumption when it's not actively in use. It does this by enabling and optimizing your Windows power settings to EPA recommended standards.
What else does it do?
The gadget also shows you how much energy you've saved, and also shows you how much energy everyone who's using the gadget has saved collectively.
It will show you different comparisons of how much energy this equals in real world terms, e.g. showing that 0.18 kWhs is enough energy to power a CFL for 10 hours.
It also provides a "Pause" button so you could keep your computer from turning off when you want to watch a movie, listen to music, or give a presentation.
How do I get started?
You need Google Desktop installed. If you don't already have it, you can find it at http://desktop.google.com.
Install the Energy Saver gadget by going to http://desktop.google.com/plugins/i/energysaver.html.
How does it work?
When you install the gadget, it automatically enables and optimizes your PC's built-in Windows power settings to the EPA's own recommendations:
- It turns off your computer screen and hard-drive after 15 minutes of inactivity.
- It puts your computer to sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity.
You're free to adjust these settings to suit your preferences.
How do I change how soon my computer will automatically turn off?
There are two ways to do this:
- First, you can access your computer's power management settings where you can adjust the amount of time your PC will idle before going to sleep.
- Second, you can get quick access to this from the gadget's "Gear" button in the lower right-hand corner and then make your adjustments.
What is the "Pause" button and how does it work?
This gadget is designed to minimize the amount of time your PC is on when not in use. However there are times, like watching a movie or giving a presentation, when you appear not to be using your PC, but actually are. The "Pause" button gives you fast, easy access, to keep your computer from turning off for 90 minutes. After the 90 minutes, your computer will go back to monitoring if it's in use or not.
What happens if I uninstall this gadget? Do I stop saving energy?
No. When you uninstall this gadget, your power management settings will remain set unless you manually change them later.
How are the energy savings calculated for this gadget? And how do you come up with the energy comparisons?
The energy savings calculations are approximations. Each computer is different and consumes different amounts of energy. We base our approximations on a number of different variables drawn from your computer, like how long your computer stays asleep and the estimated energy consumption for various types of computers (for example, laptops vs. desktops).
The energy comparisons are also approximations. They are roughly based on average measurements various companies and other sources have calculated when measuring how much energy certain products consume. (Example source from the US Department of Energy)
Why is PC power consumption important?
Collectively all PCs and monitors are responsible for nearly 2% of all US electricity consumption, and a lot of this energy goes to powering computers that are not being used all the time. This wasted energy is expensive, increases our carbon dioxide pollution, and is a part of the overall green house effect.
What is a kilowatt and kilowatt hour?
A kilowatt (kW) is 1,000 watts (W), a unit of power that can be found on the electricity ratings of some electronic devices.
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy, measured as a kilowatt of power for 1 hour. When you review your utility bill, your electricity consumption is typically displayed in kWhs. For reference, the average cost of residential electricity in the United States is $.10 per kWh.
Why do we talk about CO2?
Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is the primary greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and petroleum) to generate electricity is one of the largest contributors to all global CO2 emissions. Much of the electricity generated from the burning of fossil fuels is wasted by inefficient design or use of electronic equipment. A critical step in fighting climate change is reducing this wasted electricity by changing user behavior and utilizing more power-efficient products and technology.
Additional steps to save energy and other resources on the web
Here are some more resources on the web related to energy conservation:
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