In today’s environmentally challenged world of
greenhouse gases, climate change and toxic wastes there seems to be
little that the average gamer can do to help. After all computers use
power and computer games need computers.
Energy Smart Australia notes that a desktop
computer, used eight hours a day, can generate over 600 kilograms of
harmful greenhouse gases each year. Yet there are simple things that we
can all do. Here are six easy points to get started with that won’t
affect your gaming.
1. Switch your gaming gear off when not in use.
By turning off your gaming gear when it is not in
use you can save significant amounts of energy, help to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and save on power bills. According to Energy
Star Australia an average computer and monitor left on for a year
generate the same amount of CO2 as a car travelling from Sydney to
Perth. Remember to switch off your peripheral devices too. Printers
spend up to 95% of their time idle, drawing energy for no reason.
If you have a light display in your PC that rivals the neighbours
Christmas decorations then think about turning it off when you are not
admiring it or displaying it to admirers.
But what about the extra energy it takes to turn
your PC on? In the long run this still takes less energy than keeping
your computer on all the time. Be sensible, if you need to continually
access your computer for small periods of time then keeping it running
on standby mode may be best for you. Activating power management systems which put your inactive CPU’s and hard drive into a low-power sleep mode may be effective.
Ignore the myth that says it is detrimental to your
PC to turn it off frequently. While this was true once upon a time,
when hard disk drives did not automatically park their heads while
turning off, nowadays modern hard drives are not significantly affected
by frequent shut-downs. In fact shutting down your equipment when not
in use for long periods may help it last longer. Benefits can include
less heat stress, less dust sucked in and less mechanical wear.
2. Turn your monitor off when not in use.
Ok so you need to leave your computer running, its
busy downloading, you don’t like having to boot it up, etc. In that
case if you are not actively using the PC then turn your monitor off.
If you are using an average computer with a CRT display then out of the
120 watts of power used around 75 watts will have gone to the monitor.
If you are away for short periods of time then activate power management for the monitor: which powers down the screen after it is not used for a set time.
The Carbon Trust in the UK says that leaving a PC
monitor on all night wastes enough energy to microwave six dinners.
Just remember that a screen saver does not save energy, its only
designed to prevent images being permanently burned into a screen, not
a problem for LCD monitors.
3. Switch to a LCD screen from a CRT.
Which leads me to my next
point. A LCD uses about one third of the power of a CRT monitor. How
great is that, not only do LCD’s look great they are more energy
efficient too. Its positively a license to upgrade.
4. Reduce standby energy consumption.
Standby power now accounts for around 12% of domestic electrical use. In Australia standby
power costs consumer millions every year and results in emissions of
more than 5 mega-tonnes of greenhouse gas. So what is standby power?
It’s the power consumed by an appliance when it is switched off or not
performing its primary function. What
is it for? It used to power internal clocks and displays, charge
batteries, monitor conditions and maintain signal capabilities. Often
standby power means just that, the device is waiting in case you give
it further instructions. Just remember the manufacturer is not the one
who has to pay your power bill.
While some things need standby
power, think refrigerators, other appliances don’t. So many objects
insist on broadcasting the time at you nowadays, using standby power.
Consoles use standby power as does the television you connected it to.
Your monitor, printer and scanner can use standby power. If
you turned your appliance off with the remote, its gone to standby
power. If you have turned your computer off and there is a light
blinking on the monitor, it is using standby power. Check with the manufacturer if you are not sure if the device uses standby power.
How do you stop standby power
being used? The best way to make ensure your technology is not
consuming electricity on standby is to switch it off or unplug it at
the power point. If you need the functions that standby power accords
then look for devices which minimise standby power usage. Look for
energy rated equipment when you buy items. Again you can be sensible
about standby use. I switch my TV and console off at the wall during
the larger part of the day when I am not using it at all and leave it
on standby mode during the “entertainment” section of my evening.
5. Recycle your old computer.
Ok you have just upgraded your
computer, or perhaps bought a new one. What do you do with the now
unwanted beast lurking in the corner of the room. You tried to sell it
and had marginally less interest then when you tried to auction your
brothers old socks on ebay. You can toss it in the bin and add to
landfill or you could recycle it.
Your computer may be useful for
someone else. Lets face it, an outmoded gaming computer will almost
always be adequate for someone who just wants to type a letter. Look
for a computer recycling or refurbishment depot in your area. Ask your
local school or voluntary organisation if they need or know anyone who
needs a computer. Ask your neighbour or your less technologically
dependant friends and family.
If no one wants your computer whole then it contains
bits that can be recycled, such as circuit boards, RAM and materials
that can be recycled such as metal and some plastics. If you upgraded
your GPU then see if a friend wants to upgrade their computer with your
cast-off, not all of us operate at the top of the upgrade food chain.
If its for the bin then drop it off at a
government-run waste centre to be disposed of responsibly or ask your
local waste removal authorities who recycles components.
6. Switch to green energy.
If you can manage it, this is the
way to guilt free gaming. There are two ways to go about this. You can
invest in environmentally friendly energy producing equipment such as
solar power. While this is great and ultimately the best solution, the
cost can be prohibitive. If you don’t own your own home or if you live
in a unit it can also be impractical. There are plenty of options out
there so do your research carefully.
Or you can buy green energy, where the electricity
supplier guarantees to source the consumers percentage of energy from
green sources. Usually this will cost you a little more than regular
energy but its immediate and simple to buy into. The benefits include
increased research and investment in alternative energy sources. Check
with your electricity supplier to see if they have alternative energy
plans.
7. Save energy elsewhere in your house.
Remember that computer use only accounts for a small
part of your household energy use. So if you are serious about energy
efficient gaming then take a look at how you heat, cool and light your
gaming area.
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