Computers at FAS
Three easy steps to success
You can achieve significant computer energy savings by taking these simple steps.
- Turn it off
- Enable power management
- Buy environmentally friendly computers
- Take your green computing a step further
1. Turn It Off 
Contrary to what you may have heard, turning your computer off when you're done using it is not bad for its hardware. In fact, shutting down may even extend the life of your computer due to reduced heat stress and mechanical wear. If your printer, scanner, speakers or other peripherals aren't networked, why not keep them turned off until you need them?
Switching off is an easy thing to do. It's remembering to switch off that is often the stumbling block. Stick a note to your monitor now to remind yourself to switch off at the end of the day or work session. Or ask us to send one of our "Turn me off" stickers to you. They're free to anyone with a Harvard mailing address!
2. Enable power management, especially for monitors
Many people believe that their screensaver saves energy. This is not the case. A utility called "power management" saves energy. When enabled, it puts your computer and monitor into a low-power mode after a certain period of inactivity. Also known as "standby," "sleep" or "hibernation," this low-power mode consumes 15-25% of the energy (or less!) that would be consumed in normal mode. Because CRT monitors can use two-thirds of the total energy of the computer system, it's especially important to enable power management for your monitor.
A simple way to enable power management is to download our software, but you can also set it up manually by following these easy instructions!
3. Buy environmentally friendly computers
Consult our purchasing guide before you buy your next computer. Remember: Flat-panel monitors, laptops and equipment bearing the "Energy Star" label go a long way toward saving energy, especially if you remember to shutdown and enable power management!
Take your green computing a step further!
Minimize printing
Manufacturing one pound of office paper consumes 12 cubic inches of pulpwood, 13.5 gallons of water, 10.5 kWh of electricity and .3 pounds air pollutants. These guidelines will help you to minimize the amount of paper you send through your printer.
Consider your computer's lifecycle footprint
Like anything else, manufacturing computers consumes energy and natural resources, and it releases toxic chemicals into the environment. Computer components, especially CRT monitors, contain hazardous materials and must be disposed of properly. To reduce the environmental impacts of your computer use, recycle your computer and its components (including laptop batteries). For more information about end-of-life options for your old computer, click here.