Shut Down
Remember not to leave your computer in a sleep or hibernation mode as it does not cut off energy usage. If you have to leave your computer on for longer hours or it is not in use, it is always better to turn off your computer to minimize the energy usage compared to when the machine is in either sleep or hibernation mode.
Hard Drive
The hard drive is another device that eats up a considerable amount of energy. When the machine is not in use, it should be set to put the hard drive into sleep mode. In this manner, it is not only extending the life of your drive, but also saving energy.
Use a Good AC Adapter (Particularly For a Laptop)
There are many varieties of AC adapters sold on the market. Some eat up more energy than others. Take some time to do the survey on those AC adapters before you get one of them. Make sure you get an original AC Adapter that matches your laptop perfectly to avoid the waste in energy consumption. Do not go for the cheapest AC adapters because they may eat more energy and ruin your computer as well.
Enable Energy Saving Setting
It is necessary to set your computer to enable its energy saving ability. To do this, click on the control panel and double click on the power options icon. Next, open the energy saver or power saver window and you will have two options. The first is "turn off the display" option, set it to at least 10 minutes or according to your desired time setting, but the setting time should set to as short as possible. The second one is "put the computer to sleep" option. Try to set it to a range of 10 to 20 minutes for the purpose of energy saving. Remember to check the box with "put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible". It is always better to aim for a laptop running on the battery energy saving setting which is effective to save your wattage even though you may have plugged in your computer.
Use Energy Saving Power Socket
It is wiser to replace your normal power socket with the one that is enhanced with energy-saving properties. These energy-saving power sockets can reduce unnecessary power consumption when your computer is shut down or started.
Eliminate Unnecessary Processes
Try to eliminate any unnecessary processes that may eat up energy. Shut down any automatically running programs like Bluetooth devices or Wi-Fi wireless networks when you leave your computer or when you are plugged into the network. Always examine the processes as it may help you to detect any viruses too.
Virtualize Your Computer
If you have to use Mac, PC Window and Linux at the same time, try to consolidate these three into one single computer. This will not only save the energy using three computers with different operating platforms, but you may also save yourself the money from buying two more computers.
Reduce the Brightness
Many researches have proved that the brighter the monitor is, the more energy it will consume. Therefore, you should try to adjust the brightness that matches your personal preferences. Check the box which "automatically reduces the brightness of the display before display sleep" to reduce energy consumption. You may also set it to automatically dim after a few minutes of non-use.
Upgrade Your Computer
Generally, the old CRT monitor uses more energy than the new LCD monitor. Therefore, if possibly, you should try to upgrade your computer to a more advanced LCD flat-screen which is a more energy-efficient model than the old one.
