Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!news.cs.indiana.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!news.iastate.edu!kickapoo.cs.iastate.edu!hamilton From: hamilton@kickapoo.cs.iastate.edu (Jon Hamilton) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware Subject: Re: Leaving the Mac on Message-ID: Date: 23 Feb 91 22:22:20 GMT References: <9262.27c24f4a@cc.newcastle.edu.au> <39523@cup.portal.com> Sender: news@news.iastate.edu (USENET News System) Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA Lines: 29 John_Richard_Bruni@cup.portal.com writes: >I seem to recall the latest monthly bulletin from the Rocky Mountain Institute >saying that the power usage of the average home computer, whatever that is, >puts two tons of extra CO2 in the air per year if left on all the time rather >than turning it on when needed. I guess the question of `leave it on?` must >also examine the issue of whether the extra power use & subsequent pollution >is outweighed by the longer lifespan of the equipment when left on. If, >indeed, leaving one`s computer on does result in longer MTBF, then one needs >to know how much pollution is eliminated by not having to use more energy and >resources to build more computers. Is the power wastage outweighed by savings >in energy/resource usage? Of course, anything that uses power can be looked >at in this manner. This is an old topic that doesn't appear to be likely to go away anytime soon. As has been pointed out already, in the winter, that energy mainly puts heat into the room (there just ain't that many moving parts in a computer). If the computer is keeping the furnace from running as much as usual, then you've got another variable to consider. I leave mine on for several reasons: increased MTBF, heat generation (we have an electric furnace, so it's about the same efficiency), and I don't like waiting for my machine to boot every time I want to use it. UNIX filesystems are much nicer (less fragmented) when you leave the machine on and idle for a while. -- % Internet : hamilton@kickapoo.cs.iastate.edu | Insert cute and/or % % America Online : JonHam | deeply meaningful % % Elsewhere : ThatGeek@his.little.corner | musical quote here %