I have put the server (that brings this page to you) into efficiency mode. What? I have permanently clocked down the CPU from the stock clock of 1.8GHz down to just 1GHz and I also removed 2 sticks of RAM bringing the total down to 1GB of RAM.
Why? Well, I’m not living at home this summer so the server is only going to serve as a web server and some small tasks for the well being of the home network. I wont be running an VMs on it or hardly anything too intensive on it for at least the summer. So I figured I’d save some power and make it run on less.
Does it really save energy? Yes. It went down from using a base electricity level of 67 watts to just 56 watts. That may not sound like all that much, but it is somewhat substantial. It can translate into a dollar or two saved each month (for my parents). That makes everyone happier. Maybe I’ll even continue the power savings into the future, but maybe not because VMs take some power.
Some other things I’m doing to save electricity for the summer include:
- Completely turning off my desktop computer. This means shutting it down and flipping the power supply switch and turning the monitors and speakers completely off. It wont pull any power at all. Wish I could turn the UPS it run on off, but that would ruin the battery. But regardless, this is saving 19 watts.
- Turning laser printer completely off. It pulls 5 watts to sit there idle and since it would sit idle all summer, I’ll just turn it off so it pulls nothing at all.
- Unplugging my Stereo. It pulls 6 watts when it’s “off”, so that is substantial enough to help save.
- Unplugging my TV. It also pulls 6 watts when it’s “off.”
- Unplugging neon clock light transformer. It pulls a whopping 2 watts whether the neon light is on or off. The clock is battery operated so unplugging the neon light wont make it stop.
- Unplug coffee maker. It pulls 3 watts when it’s not making coffee.
- Unplugging my 5 port gigabit switch. I have a private switch for all my computers and since I wont be home to use them, I can unplug this switch… saving 8 watts. I’ll plug the server into another switch for the summer.
This all comes to a total savings of 57 watts. And considering that normally my room consumes a minimum of 129 watts, this is almost cutting that consumption in half. And that is just the stuff I am doing listed above. That does not even count the power saved by me not actually being in the room all summer. Things like lights, my desktop, my laptop, having the TV on, printing, making coffee and other various things all draw a lot of power and me not being home to draw those powers… saves a lot. My desktop not being on is the biggest saving. And while I’ll still be using computers over the summer, not having my desktop on saves some power for the good of the world!
Plus, at my summer job, I will have my computer off when I leave… but even then the computers they provide don’t actually pull that much power.
Overall, I’m doing good for the environment. I hope you do the same!
So you’re saying “So what? That isn’t that much savings.” Well… you’re right, but every little bit adds up. If people cared a little more then perhapes global warming wouldn’t be as big a problem.
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