(ANTant@zimage.com) writes:

>> Small reductions won't make a difference, unless you have a house really
>> lit up with loads of equipment on all the time in every room.
>
> Ah, darn. I thought my box would be hogging a lot since it uses a 350 watts PSU. Not sure how many watts my box
> goes up to when in idled and heavy usage (e.g., compilation, Google Earth, etc.).

But along the lines of the other poster, 350watts is only a bit more than
3 100watt bulbs. Turn off three 100 watt bulbs (or reduce their wattage,
such as the move to compact flourescent), and you've got your savings.

I used to have a 100watt ceiling bulb, and 3 60watt table lamps in the
room with my computer. The ceiling lamp is now about 23W (compact
flourescent) and the table lamps are now 20watt halogens. I've
saved about 100W.

But of course, the 350watt figure on the computer power supply is the
maximum power it can supply. It doesn't draw that if it isn't needed.

But, if you're paying $500 in the summer for electricity, I don't think
a few bulbs are the issue, and thus the computer isn't going to save
much money no matter how much you can reduce its current use.

Michael