Frequently Asked Questions

1. Doesn't the computer last longer if it is left on constantly instead of turning it on and off?

This was true back in the days of the mainframe, but it's not true anymore. The lifetime of your hard disk is typically limited by head-disk mechanical interactions and wear, rather than by electrical surges and thermal cycling during start-up. It's a good practice to turn off your computer and monitor (as well as your printer and copier) if you don't plan to use them again within the next half hour.
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2. Should I turn off the lights if I am only leaving for a short meeting? Doesn't turning the lights on and off reduce lamp life?

It is true that turning fluorescent lights on and off frequently reduces lamp life. However, if you are away for at least 15 minutes, then turning the lights off is recommended. Note that even though turning lights off and on reduces the lamp life as measured in total hours, the calendar life of the lamps is actually extended because the lamps operate only during those hours that are needed.
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3. Doesn't equipment use more energy during start-up than when in normal operation? So, when I turn equipment on after turning it off, does it create a surge and increase the peak demand thus costing us more?

The modern electronic ballast and T8/T5 lamp combination and most equipment do draw a higher level of current during startup, but it only lasts for a fraction of a second, which is negligible compared to normal current requirements of the equipment. Since the electric meter only records the average demand every 15 minutes and since the extra power used during start-up is not sustained for 15 minutes, the effect on the electricity bill is negligible.
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4. Do ENERGY STAR© computers automatically power down and enter Sleep Mode when it isn't used for a certain period of time?

ENERGY STAR© computers come with sleep capability--but the sleep feature has to be turned on before the computer will automatically power down when not in use. To find out if your computer has this feature turned ON, go to Control Panel on your computer and click on Power Options. Make sure the Enable Hibernation box is checked in the Hibernation tab. To setup or change the setting of power management, go to the Power Schemes tab and adjust the time setting. The lower the setting, the more energy you save. To get more information on this topic, visit: Activating power management features on individual computers. Finally, remember that turning the computer off when you're not using it is always better than just letting your computer sleep.
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5. Doesn't a screen saver save energy?

Most screen savers do not save energy, unless they actually turn off the screen or, in the case of laptops, turn off the backlight. Graphic intensive screen savers use as much energy as word processing and may even prevent your computer from entering Sleep Mode. If you want to save energy and save the screen, turn the monitor off by its switch (or its power strip) when you're not using it.
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6. How much power does the equipment in my office use and what can I do to reduce equipment energy usage?

The power drawn by equipment depends on a variety of factors including whether or not the equipment is ENERGY STAR© labeled and has the power management settings enabled. If you are interested in measuring the power drawn by specific equipment in your office, let us know and we will loan you a Kill-A-Watt meter. In addition to the recommendations included in the Save Energy at Workplace document, refer to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) Online Guide to Energy-Efficient Commercial Equipment for tips on how to reduce equipment energy usage.
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7. Does equipment use energy even when it is turned off?

Yes, equipment can continue to use some energy even when it is turned off unless it is unplugged or turned off at the power strip. This "ghost" or "vampire" load can be as much as 15 to 30 Watts per equipment - not a lot but it adds up quickly. Almost any product with an external power supply, remote control, continuous display (including LED), or battery charger will draw power continuously. To see how much power an equipment uses in stand-by mode, please visit: Standby Power. Note that Energy Star labeled equipment use less energy in stand-by mode.
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8. How much power does the lighting in my office use?

If your office has been upgraded with newer T8 lamps (these are thinner in diameter than the older T12 lamps), each 4' long 2-lamp fixture uses about 59-62 Watts. If your office still has older lighting, each 4' long 2-lamp fixture uses about 82 Watts. You can reduce the lighting energy usage in your office by turning off the overhead lighting and using natural lighting or energy efficient task-lighting instead.
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9. My room has a motion sensor to automatically turn off the lights but I am in the habit of hitting the sensor to manually turn off the lights. Is that okay?

Occupancy/motion sensors are typically set to automatically turn off the lights after 30 seconds to 15 minutes. If the sensor allows for manual override you can manually turn the lights off when you leave and this should not cause any problems. Some occupancy sensors may need to be manually turned ON if they have been manually turned OFF. So avoid hitting the sensor to turn off the lights in common areas that may be used by others.
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Send us your questions and we will be happy to respond. If it turns out to be a popular question, we will even add it to this list.