[Stuart Wright]

When you're done using your PC, do you switch it off? This is a question about how green you are.

[sbowler]

7o% of the time I do, I ride my push bike to work to make up the other 30%

[Uridium]

No.... switched on 24x7 as well as my Server and switch buzzing away in the loft

EDIT: come to think of it I don't tend to download much overnight nowadays so I think I'll write a script tonight to shut it down in the early hours if it's not downloading

[chuwright]

I tend to leave mine on as it's usually downloading something overnight & a faulty power supply meant it would take 15 retries for the machine to boot. The PSU's been replaced now the machine's off when not in use. I do switch off my TV, cycle to work every day, recycle as much as possible, choose LCD over Plasma, use low energy bulbs, basically was doing well on the green front. Then bought an Xbox 360. Using it as a media extender, I now get HD video and a fairly cheap heating system rolled into one!

[igk101]

I leave it on if I'm going to be away for less than an hour or two, but in that case I always turn the monitor off.
I don't think continuously booting up/shutting down/rebooting is good for the internal components, and it's time consuming.
I have a low-energy bulb in the study too

[LFCRules]

I voted yes, but it is only an IBM laptop I have, and put it in "standby" when not in use. Ok, I know not perfectly green, but it is using a lot less power in standby mode. And I also don't drive, and ride my bicycle to and from work everyday, so that's my bit for the environment



I won't mention the other 5 or 6 other AV items which are either on or in standby mode also, to make it easier for my Pronto multi-remote to turn everything on and off

[shahedz]

i switch mine on when i get in from work and turn it off when i get to sleep. on the weekends i turn it on in the morning and off when i get to sleep.

[GBDG1]

I have a laptop so not much option.

[Paul O]

Laptop - so its off (or standby) when not in use. Only left on if downloading stuff. Always off at the weekend

[AgentCool]

I turn the computer off even if I'm only going to be away for around 20-30 minutes. I'm a patient man and can wait the 1 or 2 minutes it takes to boot up. My LCD TV is turned off (not standby) when not in use but I do leave my DVD player, Amp and 360 on standby. My ADSL Router is on all day but I turn it off at night though this is primarily because it makes a difficult to hear yet extremely irritating whining noise which is a pain given it is in my bedroom.

[Greg]

If I am leaving the PC for more than an hour I will turn it off. It is always off overnight and when I am out. No point having it on really, just wasting a lot of leccy.

[adrianwi]

Web server always on, Media PC always on, Laptop turned off overnight.

Using energy saving bulbs and recycling my printer cartridges to make up

Everything switched off and unplugged when out. LCD TV only ever plugged in when we want to use it,same with Hi Fi . only things that get left on are the router,and the main PC is left on overnight once a week for Defrag, full system scanswith Anti -Virus and Antispyware software.
Energy saving lightbulbs in all light sockets.
Fairly green here but I also drive a 4x4

[Singh400]

Meh its on/off through the day (longest uptime is 14hrs), I only leave it overnight when it is defragging or stuff.

[andyman2]

Normally switch mine off at night. The windows shutdown theme is a sign for the dog to get up ready to be let out!

The router, WAP and switch stay on.

CRT TV off
LCD in standby as it doesn't have an off switch.

Some energy saving light bulbs, but she who must be obeyed isn't keen on the light they give off.

The old flourescent light in the kitchen (admittedly a bit of a fly trap) that never failed in 10 years is now replaced by 10 spot lamps that run hot and blow a couple of times a year (each) .......

Mine is just left on all the way kekeke

[rcaudwell]

Have started using "hibernate" when away from the computer. Seems to work well, only takes 10-15 seconds to restart.

My PC is switched on first thing in a morning and turned off last thing at night

[elton-77]

Always switch PC off when not required for an hour. Takes so little effort to restart. Server stays on as long as the childrens PC is required - otherwise that too is switched off.

[mjn]

2 x servers on 24/7 and other PC's on when needed, and when not, put in "hibernate" mode.

[BazMan]

I always switch my PC off when I'm finished, but it's not for environmental reasons; it's to stop "them" watching me through the webcam...

[rooster-x]

Switch it off and cycle to work, leave the plasma, and amp in standby though Them A class amps and plasmas sure put out some heat when they are running

Seems to be lots of people cycling to work, maybe that should be your next poll Stuart

[Daddy k]

mine gets switched off, allthou about once a week its left on al night to do its checks etc.

however my amps etc are on standby, but i use energy saving lightbulbs and only bath once a week and refuse to use deodrant due to the ozone

[fraggle]

Things on 24x7x365:-
Linux server
laser printer (but it has power saving modes)
ADSL router
wireless access point
wireless printer access point
HTPC (but it puts itself into sleep mode after 15 mins)
UPS
couple of network switches
2 x freeview boxes
1 x Tivo box

Things sometimes on 24x7:-
Main PC

Things turned off:-
2 x laptops


Yes, I've got too many PCs!

What I want to know is does a fridge/freezer take up more power than a PC? Cause I've got a little fridge in the kitchen, a big chest freezer in the garage, and a beer fridge in the garage too. Not very green, but nice cold beer

[elton-77]

Nice to hear your focussed on the important issues eg Cold beer! LOL

[Reign-Mack]

Leave main computer running 24/7 usually downloading or uploading.

[Tek70]

why do you want to know?

Its a mac so no need to switch it off.

[OldAndSenile]

Originally Posted by fraggle

What I want to know is does a fridge/freezer take up more power than a PC? Cause I've got a little fridge in the kitchen, a big chest freezer in the garage, and a beer fridge in the garage too. Not very green, but nice cold beer

Depends on the size/insulation of the fridge and how often you open it, I suppose! Our "A" Grade Fridge Freezer is supposed to cost something stupid like £10 a year to run.. I'm sure PCs with monitors, printers, routers and the like are far more power hungry than that..

As for me, I've started turning most things off at the wall when I've finished using them - partly to save energy and money, mostly because it drives the wife barmy when she tries to work out how to turn it all back on again!

[ns1col]

Everything off when i go to bed apart from the freeview box in the living room as i use the rf out to the bedroom freeview box.