Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Sebastian Thrun: Google's Driverless Car
Idle Computers Cost Companies $2.8 Billion Annually
With layoffs continuing and unemployment rates hitting record highs, companies have been radically cutting costs since last fall. A new report reveals an unexpected way to cut costs that doesn't involve any firings: Turn off company computers at night. Conducted by 1E (an energy-management software company) and the Alliance to Save Energy, the 2009 PC Energy report estimates that U.S., U.K., and German companies are losing $2.8 billion annually because of idle, plugged-in computers running overnight.
According to the study, over half of the estimated 108 million PCs in U.S. offices are left running after hours. 1E CEO Sumir Karayi told USAToday, "Workers do not feel responsible for electricity bills at work, and some companies insist PCs remain on at night so they can be patched with software updates." Employees surveyed in the report offered many excuses, ranging from forgetfulness and long shut-down times to the need to access the computer remotely. Others simply mentioned company policies that require employees to keep their computers running (software/hardware updates are often carried out after-hours). The cost isn't just a simple dollar amount, either; the study compares the 20 million tons of carbon dioxide predicted to be emitted by these computers in 2009 to the environmental impact of 4 million cars.
If it's not against company policy, we suggest taking the time to shut down your computer before you leave the office. Similarly, you can save on your own home power bills by shutting down your gadgets when you're done for the day; at the very least you won't have to worry about blinking gadget lights keeping you up all through the night. [From: USA Today]
Related Links:
- Bad Economy Leading Folks to Steal Electricity
- Property Tycoon Builds America's First Green Mansion
- Wind-Powered Battery Pack Charges Your Gadgets
16 Grammys Looks That Weren't Working
Whitney Houston Autopsy: Cause of Death Determined?
Worst Movie Mistakes: Date Night Edition (PHOTOS)
Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina: Late Singer's Daughter Hospitalized
Adele Five-Year Break? Singer Plans to Focus on Relationship, Write 'Happy Record'
PHOTOS: President Obama's Kissing Technique
Jennifer Hudson Whitney Tribute: Grammy President Reveals Why Singer Was Chosen for Musical Memorial
Grammy 2012 Winners' List: Adele Sweeps Music's Biggest Night
How Hattie Lost 300 Pounds: 'I Was Ready To Do Whatever It Took To Survive'
3 Economic Misconceptions That Need to Die
5-Hour Energy: A Success Equal Parts Caffeine, Chemistry and Meditation
Matt Bomer Comes Out As Gay
People With Easy-To-Pronounce Names More Likely To Succeed, Study Says
Katy Perry Grammy Performance 2012: Did the Diva Diss Her Ex-Hubby With Revealing New Song?
Photos Of Dead Lacrosse Player's Injured Body Shown To Jury
Whitney Houston Dead: Stars React to Legend's Sudden Death
Grammy Awards 2012: The Best & Worst Of The Red Carpet!
12 Grammys Stars Who Gave Good Style
The Top 10 Slacker Colleges
15 Funny Valentine's Day Cards
Mystery Disease Kills Thousands
WATCH: 25 Million Tons Of Japan Tsunami Debris Headed Directly Our Way
Remembering The People's Ballerina
Oprah Under Fire For Controversial Tweet
PHOTOS: Thank God For Grown-Up Glamour
JUNGLE SURVIVAL: Marines Drink Snake Blood, Eat Insects
PHOTOS: Model Falls At Dennis Basso Show
New Clues, Details Emerge In Powell Case
PHOTOS: Kate Spends Valentine's Day Solo!
LOOK: Amazing Underwater Photos Of Dogs
PHOTOS: Beautiful Scars
15 Funny Valentine's Day Quotes
Comments
3
Subscribe to commentspaulMar 29th 2009 6:40PM
What twit works for Microsoft and couldn't be bothered to code an automated shutdown setting into the energy/power saver control panel? Not in XP, not in Vista. The Mac has had one since the mid-90s.
Of course, what twit IT would recommend Microsoft to gently suck any kind of productivity or profit from a firm. Self-serving job-security-seeking It support staff maybe. Who else. Microsoft is such a waste of budget.
Mekhong KurtMar 30th 2009 1:49AM
As Paul notes, it should be possible to establish an automated shutdown and, assuming a company has all it's computers connected to each other, to have the intranet set up so that a single employee could come him, turn on one computer, and have every other computer fire up at the same time.
Though my memory is hazy and the details of the story are long since forgotten, I remember reading some time back about a study of the costs involved in having employees turn off their computers before heading home for the day, costs including (to name but two) lost productivity and employees' salaries. An automated shutdown would eliminate the first, and having to pay only a single employee to turn on the network the next day virtually eliminates the second, even in quite small organizations.
I mention that story because purely in terms of direct costs, we have to compare the two -- the costs from leaving computers on versus the costs from shutting them down. Of course, such a comparison ignores any environmental impacts and costs resulting from those, granted.
Laptop BagsMar 31st 2009 3:17AM
I'm a firm believer in turning off and unplugging, but I didn't realize that this much electricity and money was wasted.