Turn off your computer monitor when not in use.  If there’s a little light on the front of the monitor when the computer is turned off, then the monitor is not really off.  In fact, your computer is likely not completely off either.  Most electronics, computers included, still draw energy even when they appear to be off.  This is a ‘quick start’ feature which only saves a few seconds on the startup time.  I’ll wait the few extra seconds to save us from the worst of global warming.

It is estimated that in the US, about $1,000,000,000 (1 billion dollars) is wasted annually to pay for the energy that powers computer monitors left turned on when they should not be.

The best way to save the most energy for monitors, computers, TVs and electronics in general is to use power switches.  See also our page on Power Switches.