Turn Off Your Computer When Not in Use

It's a myth that leaving your computer on overnight saves energy.

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eco tip for turning off your computer at night

Photo: Istock

By Brian Clark Howard

When you are done scouring Web pages and documents for business and pleasure, turn off your workstation. It will save energy and wear and tear on your hardware.

In one year, if you shut your machine off before bed each night, you'll save as much as $90 worth of electricity (less for efficient laptops). The Department of Energy recommends shutting off your monitor if you aren't going to use it for more than 20 minutes, and the whole system if you're not going to use it for more than two hours. The agency says time spent off extends your machine's life.

Although computers don't complain (yet) about all the work we make them do, why not give yours a break?

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