Go Green Tips: Electrons, Neutrons… No, Just Electricity!

By: Christine Toorinjian

            As you’ve heard in last weeks’ edition of Go Green Tips, we’re still in it to win the HECO Home Energy Challenge! When will this “nonsense” ever stop you may ask? Well, and honey it ‘aint nonsense, it isn’t over until it’s over, and clearly, it isn’t over if I keep on bringing it up. Here’s a small update though.  Because we joined in on the challenge at the beginning of the school year, and with the challenge being 6 months long, we’re about 3-4 months in with the challenge. Instead of telling you even more about the challenge, it’s time for you to hear the tips that just, might lead us to victory. The tips that will save the environment, and not only that, but your wallet from ever going hungry again. The tips that I don’t really have much else to say about. Here they are, he one and only tips about electronics, that will be listed in the next paragraph!

 So let’s cut to the chase. This week’s tips are about how we can save energy through the use of our electronics. Of course, we use these things every day, so might as well save a bit of energy here and there while you’re at it. Hey, one good thing leads to another. Anyways, here we are with this week’s tips:

#1: Use power strips to eliminate phantom energy loads. This is when something draws energy even when not in use. Devices such as cell phone chargers use standby power when not in use, which can cause phantom loads.

#2: If you have a PC and you’re not going to use it for more than 20 minutes, turn monitor off. If you’re not going to use it for more than 2 hours, turn both the CPU and monitor off.

#3: Choose ENERGY STAR qualified home electronics, which are known to use up to 60% less energy than other brands.

#4: Activate the “sleep” features found on printers and other office equipment so that after a while, they’ll power down.

#5: Check the power management features on your computer and monitor are activated and running.

Well, that seems just about right! Just remember to keep these tips in mind the next time you’re on your computer, or charging your phone. Also keep in mind that the challenge is almost at an end, and by that end, we want to be at the top end of the winner’s this year! See you again next time for more tips on how to save some energy!