Hey readers, I’m still sunning and funning in…well New York City, and why not? Staycation is the new Vacation! Here’s a vintage post from the early days of SFSG in 2008. -Madam Toussaint

Here are a few things you can do to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions with your computer.

Reduce Power Requirements

Try closing out of applications when not in use. Adjust the brightness on your screen and maybe you’ll help your eyes out too. Put your computer on sleep mode even if you’re only stepping away from it to make a cheese sandwich right quick.

Buy An Energy Efficient Computer

When shopping for a computer find out if the computer and monitor are Energy Star-certified. Also dispose of your computer properly by finding places that recycle or reuse computers because there are environmentally unfriendly materials inside.

Try Local Cooling
This is a power management system that “automatically optimizes your PC’s power consumption by using a more effective power save mode. You will be able to see your savings in real-time translated to more environmental terms such as how many trees and gallons of oil you have saved. The application is free to download.
localcooling.com
NOTE: The application has been discontinued since power management settings in Windows Vista have been drastically improved.

Try Greenprint
Have you ever sent something to print off the internet then you have that last page with only the URL on it? What a waste, but no more with Greenprint. It’s a print management system that lets you see what your printing and eliminate what you don’t need.

GreenPrint also incorporates an easy to use PDF writer, a fantastic print preview called GreenView, and a reporting feature which keeps track of the number of pages and the amount of money you have saved.

Their website features a free download.
printgreener.com

Turn it off
Turn off your computer when not in use or turn off your monitor.