Green IT Utilities
The good news is that green computing need not be as onerous as it sounds, as there are a number of IT utilities available that can plug into your existing PCs and start to reduce power consumption and your carbon footprint. These utilities work by talking direct to the computer hardware and managing the power consumed by the processors, disks and monitors. As they talk direct to the hardware once installed there is no need to configure or manage them, they will do this for you automatically.
So what are you likely to experience when such a utility has been installed?
Money saving – the utility should switch off your monitor when you are not using it for a few minutes. When it realises you have finished using your PC it will close it down automatically. This will save on electricity bills as well as your overall energy use.
Faster boot up time – many utilities will hibernate your PC so when you come to use it again it will spring to life a lot quicker. Remember to switch off completely when you have finished though as hibernation still consumes power. Hibernation is really only suitable for short coffee or lunch breaks and should not be used overnight.
Reduced PC heating – anyone that has worked in larger offices without air conditioning will understand the heat that PCs can generate. By managing the power consumed by a computer you should be able to reduce the amount of heat generated in an office, reducing the need for air conditioning.
A word of warning though. Be careful where you source your green utility from as it may act as a “Trojan Horse” introducing malware onto your computer which could compromise your security. Trojans are difficult to spot by their very nature. A good suggestion would be to visit reputable websites only, such as those from well know companies or organisations. In addition make sure your anti-virus software is fully up to date.
We cover malware in more detail in this guide:
Computer Viruses and Malware
Remember that you will also need to test any utility to ensure it does not damage any data on your PCs.
We cover other green IT issues in the Guide, including:
Recycling your Computer Hardware
Environmentally friendly IT and reducing waste in your business
By, Mr BITG, Virtual Director, Business IT Guide
