Please Turn Off Your Computers Over Vacation
from the thanks dept
Canon is apparently worried about the impact of people leaving their printers and other office equipment on over the holidays. They've done a study in the UK, noting that a tremendous amount of energy will be wasted by office workers leaving computers, printers and other equipment powered up while they're off from work. All in all, they say the excess wasted juice will cost companies £8.66 million (~$17 million), and would apparently be enough to roast 4.4 million holiday turkeys. Of course, it's not Canon's printers doing most of the damage (it's their study after all). The big energy suckers are the PCs, of course, representing 87% of the problem. So, apparently, Canon's holiday message to the world is, please, when you leave the office for the holidays, turn off your PC.
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
Server's Too by DittoBox on Dec 15th, 2006 @ 7:26pm
You should all turn off the servers too.
Sincerely, The BOfH
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Standby Mode by Beck on Dec 15th, 2006 @ 7:31pm
The article indicates that this level of usage is for electronics left in standby mode.
Better advice would be to unplug everything because even when these devices are turned off they are still drawing electricity.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Evil Otto on Dec 15th, 2006 @ 8:27pm
Ten days?!? People in England get TEN DAYS over the holidays?
Don't they know that giving people days off supports terrorism?
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Make Me... by SimplyGimp on Dec 15th, 2006 @ 8:31pm
My computers are staying on the entire holiday season. How dare you even suggest I should turn off my BOINC software. I'm contributing idle CPU cycles towards finding a cure for cancer!
Happy Holidays!
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Wait! by Danny on Dec 15th, 2006 @ 8:58pm
Won't turning them off and on every year wear out the switches and cause the hard drives to freeze? LOL. (I really love that argument and am just instigating)
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Ironic by Paul on Dec 15th, 2006 @ 9:42pm
Just earlier today my roommate left saying he wouldn't be back until the next evening. He left without turning off 2 computers in his room, along with a large fan.
Screw wasted energy, I'm worried about wasted money on my electric bill.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Misleading title by Anonymous Coward on Dec 15th, 2006 @ 9:50pm
Personally, the title is kinda misleading - on my peronsalized Google home-page I read the rss link and thought "So people are supposed to turn off their home computers for some reason?"...
Perhaps it's just my stupidity, but it would help if it said "Please turn off your computers at work over vacation"
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
It's Holiday - Not Vacation by TZoe on Dec 15th, 2006 @ 10:21pm
Isn't it, "We're going on holiday" as the commonly used term in the UK vs. vacation?
At any rate - I'm voting for turning off and unplugging all electronic equipment when away in case there is an electrical storm or outage in your absence - avoid the deadly power surge!
Otherwise, my pc's will be on throughout this holiday/vacation!
(I get one whole day of holiday and one whole day I took for vacation - blended nicely, thank you very much!)
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Nonsense by SortaLikeJake on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 12:02am
But, how am I supposed to finish all of those illegal Limewire downloads if I don't leave the computer running while on holiday? =P
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Ironic by Bill on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 12:22am
You could save electricity by flipping the breaker for his room after he leaves... but leave the furnace on because frozen pipes in an apartment can get very messy and you'll neighbors will hate you for it... just ask my old roommate.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
That's christmas, by the way by Greg Jackson on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 1:12am
A whole article about the Christmas holiday, which manages not to use the word Christmas. I don't believe in god either - but this studious avoidance of cultural heritage is ridiculous. What is a "holiday turkey"? What would the article call Santa Claus - holiday gift giving man?
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: That's christmas, by the way by Anonymous Coward on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 4:30am
The original article didn't seem to have any problem mentioning Christmas several times.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: That's christmas, by the way by Someone on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 5:24am
Actually, it makes sense to say 'holiday turkey.' The traditional Christmas bird is the goose, turkey only became popular after colonisation of the Americas, and due in part I suspect to Thanksgiving (or as we English like to call it, "We didn't want America anyway" day) and then later in Europe as more turkeys began to be shipped over here. This is particularly relevant as the article is about the UK (although turkey is probably more common than goose over here now due to cost).
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
DON'T TURN THEM OFF!! by Sammer The Spammer on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 6:13am
PLEASE DON'T TURN YOUR PCS OFF! I HAVE TONS OF SPAM TO SEND AND I NEED THOSE ZOMBIES. OH PLEASE, PLEASE!!
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Anonymous Coward on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 6:36am
Just turn off the ones that surveilance cameras use to report motion ;-)
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Stu on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 6:46am
"We didn't want America anyway" day
NOW THAT'S FUNNY !
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Anonymous Coward on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 7:18am
"Thanksgiving (or as we English like to call it, "We didn't want America anyway" day)"
If you're going to try to be funny, at least be smart, and realize that your joke would refer to The 4th of July (Independence Day).
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
I'll Use My Elecricity If I Wanna by Jeff on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 8:16am
Just proves Canon's all commie fascist pig.
If I wanna leave my computer on in case I wanna run background tasks, or log in remotely to check on things, or whatever, well then I'm d***ed well gonna.
Canon should read the other Techdirt articles that talk about how so many people no longer have a "work-free" vacation and end up mixing work with vacation, never TOTALLY leaving the office behind. In other words, I'm not WASTING electricity, I'm USING IT how I *want* to use it.
Moreover, Mike, many articles like this you don't just put out the company view, but you also balance it with other Techdirt articles in the past or other current points of view. Maybe you just got lazy or just thought if you presented the one view that it would be funny to stir up the fire and see what kinda inflamatory comments would result. But really it's exactly this kind of article that makes we want to dismiss Techdirt authors as just a bunch of whiney b****es whose musings are mostly junk , but who occasionally give me a heads-up on a tech topic I hadn't heard about elsewhere yet.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Anonymous Coward on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 9:14am
Wonder if they wasted more power in using materials and energy to do the study...
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
"but... we must say *something* ..." by Brad Eleven on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 9:20am
What a waste of energy it was to publish this silly recommendation. As many have already pointed out, we have much more perfidious ways to waste energy than to leave our bloody computers on.
See also the actual causes of shifts in human behavior, and note that none of them are a memorandum. Or a news article. Or even an essay. It takes someone's livelihood being interrupted, and regrettably, this is much more likely to happen when sensible practises are legislated.
I agree with the idea, and I'm aligned with the cultural elements who are likely to continue reminding us that we have actually passed the energy watershed. However, the ownership of the mass media is concentrated in the hands of the same people who've invested heavily in petroleum, and in Middle East "stability" (read "run by white people"), and in other concerns which dictate continued global warming and genocide.
I fully expect the deck chairs to be maintained, even as the vessel comes apart and sinks with us on it.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
BOINC will be running by Dingo on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 9:47am
I will be leaving all the PC's and servers running and crunching BOINC work over the Christmas holiday and all other holidays. BOINC@AUSTRALIA at http://boinc-australia.net welcomes all Aussies and ex pats to join their team.
Dingo
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
10 Days OFF?!? by Anonymous Bastard on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 9:53am
Wait...some people get 10 days off for the holidays? I'm lucky that i get christmas and new years day off at all, so my company tells me! with both of their "eves" happening on sunday, they don't even have to give us those off (or make them half days)
damn you all that work as non-sweatshop laborers (or if you're in the uk, labourers)
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Bah ! Humbug ! by John Hunt on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 10:20am
My PC will stay on as it has 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week since March of this year. That was the last time it was switched off.(for 2 days)
P.S. http://boinc-australia.net welcomes Poms too! (well, they let me in!)
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Holidays? by Veebee on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 12:00pm
Holidays? who gets holidays?
Certainly not my PC's. Boinc will be crunching and chomping like every other day, with a bit of F.E.A.R thrown in for fun.
There is no rest for the weary at Boinc@ Australia.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: That's christmas, by the way by ryan on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 1:09pm
why would it mention santa at all?
that's bizarre and culturally prejudiced.
there are other holidays around the same time.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Server's Too by Anonymous Coward on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 1:10pm
the the internet would be down jackass.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Mine stay on by Wang on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 2:01pm
I am hoping christmas-gift-giving-man will be bringing me an extra PC that I can also leave on over the holidays with all the others that are currently BOINCing to find cures for major diseases. And yes, BOINC@Australia let me in too!
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: "but... we must say *something* ..." by KuanYin on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 2:33pm
Brad Eleven....
somebody makes a suggestion regarding energy and you have to turn it into racism? Get off your soapbox... wasted energy concerns everybody...has nothing to do with any race...
**** agree with the idea, and I'm aligned with the cultural elements who are likely to continue reminding us that we have actually passed the energy watershed. However, the ownership of the mass media is concentrated in the hands of the same people who've invested heavily in petroleum, and in Middle East "stability" (read "run by white people"), and in other concerns which dictate continued global warming and genocide.***
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Proliferation of Viruses by Peet McKimmie on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 3:30pm
It's worrying that this culture of "energy saving" is so prevalent in the computer world. People install virus scanners to protect their systems, set them to run at 4am so their work won't be interrupted, go away and... Some busybody switches their machine off before leaving.
End result, the antivirus software gives them a false sense of security, while never actually being run. Oh, but it will download upgrades and incur recurring charges on the corporate bank account...
Pessimist Peet.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Keep them up by Red Dog1 on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 3:37pm
I think a good comprimise would be to leave the servers up but power down all the workstations in the building along with the lights, might just save a few bucks.....
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
o..my..god by bugsy3333 on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 5:53pm
i just stumbled into this quagmire of inane "dialog".
do yourselves a favor and turn off your computers forever.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Wait! by Sheldon on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 6:42pm
No way man,wont the buttons fall off if you touch them lol.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
But then furnaces will work harder! by MissingFrame on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 6:52pm
Sure, save electricity on your PC but what would normally just be converted to heat now has to be compensated for by the furnace. Net sum zero?
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: by Down Under on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 7:31pm
Now that is hilarious because the English must have decided they no longer wanted America after they got their asses kicked off the property!
Now that's funny!
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Waste Management Has You Covered. by infinigeek on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 7:47pm
No need to turn off those computers... Waste Management is installing incinerators and what not... so just make you throw all of your stuff away, also... make sure that you DON'T RECYCLE.... that way they have more waste to burn :)
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Danny on Dec 16th, 2006 @ 8:45pm
Using waste to burn as a heat source is a recycling. (not being a jerk, is the definition of the word)
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Anonymous Coward on Dec 17th, 2006 @ 2:49am
Isn't there still a power on LANish option?
Not that that's secure...
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by bill on Dec 17th, 2006 @ 3:39am
a lot of people work through the holidays believe it or not. shutting off the servers is most likely out of the question. and a lot of people connect to their desktops at work with PC anywhere or GotomyPC.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: That's christmas, by the way by Anonymous Coward on Dec 17th, 2006 @ 6:20am
No they would call him a holday gift giving "person".
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Idiot by Platina on Dec 17th, 2006 @ 6:45am
Are you just plain stupid, or a idiot.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Make Me... by buck on Dec 17th, 2006 @ 7:59am
Here! Here! BOINC ROCKS!
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Re: Idiot by discojohnson on Dec 17th, 2006 @ 11:18am
or sarcastic..
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Tell to run Folding @ home instead by sugarengine on Dec 17th, 2006 @ 12:46pm
Instead of turning them off, run folding at home and help advance things like cancer research.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Re: Server's Too by Anonymous Coward on Dec 17th, 2006 @ 12:47pm
I think that was his point dumbass.....
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Other Reason by AdminSeek on Dec 17th, 2006 @ 1:10pm
Another reason to turn off your computer during an extended stay is that there will be less chance your system(s) get hacked into.
www.AdminSeek.net :: When you need forum staff!
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Laugh all you want but by Crystalwizard on Dec 17th, 2006 @ 4:56pm
turning my computer and monitor off when not at home or asleep at night was something I started several months ago. Didn't change anything else. My monthly electric bill dropped by about 45%
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Server's Too by anonymous on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 12:36am
SO TRUE
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Laugh all you want but by Peet McKimmie on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 2:32am
Just to put this in context, can we assume you do most or all of your cooking and heating by gas? I can well believe a computer making up about 45% of a "computer, TV and lighting" bill, but not 45% of a "computer, TV, lighting, heating and cooking" bill. I have one or two computers running pretty much 24/7, and I knocked 25% off my monthly bill by investing in low-energy light bulbs.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Power... by IT PRO on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 5:42am
Duh... This is a standard practice and has been known a long time to turn off PC's during holiday breaks. Such a Non-Story.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: furnaces will work harder by Brian Zero on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 6:21am
Net sum zero? I don't think so. There is a certain thing called efficiency.
PCs may produce a lot of heat but that's all INEFFICIENCY. A lot of research has gone into making them produce as little heat as possible, though clearly there's a long way to go with that one.
Whereas a 'furnace' is optimised to produce heat as efficiently as possible. There's virtually no processing power generated as an unwanted by-product of a furnace.
So generally, a furnace produces more heat with less energy than even an AMD Athlon! (don't get me wrong - I'm an AMD person but that was one hot processor family!)
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Power... by Unknowledgeable Geek on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 6:37am
Must be obvious and a nonstory because look at all the people that agree with you.
Idiot!!
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
It's all about the president! by Beau on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 6:46am
If you're not using your PC for anything while you're gone just turn it off. I know it's hard to resist, but your IRC buddies really don't care about your uptime. Your system ticks has no effect on the leet-o-meter, I'm sorry :(
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: 10 Days OFF?!? by Celes on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 8:31am
I work in hospitality... I don't get Christmas OR New Year's (day or eve) off. You really are lucky that you do. (Or you chose a better line of work. ^_^)
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
WHAT? AND MISS MY SECURITY UPDATES?! by Kevin on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 9:51am
Is IBM on crack?
We are BEGGING people to leave the PC's on all the time so that Marimba can get the pc's updated. They have to get their securit updates, patches, and fixes. Not to mention that the symantec services go out and find the definition updates a bit better when there's power to the cpu.
IBM, you have your Bean Counters running your IT department.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: But then furnaces will work harder! by florida cracker on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 10:13am
You are assuming that heat is needed. I am here in Florida and it is one week from christmas and the AC is pumping in cold air 24/7. The more PC's we have on here the more AC we need to keep them cool.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: WHAT? AND MISS MY SECURITY UPDATES?! by Anonymous Coward on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 10:14am
It was Canon that made the recomendation, not IBM.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Re: WHAT? AND MISS MY SECURITY UPDATES?! by Kevin on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 10:54am
My bad.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Re: WHAT? AND MISS MY SECURITY UPDATES?! by Kevin on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 10:55am
My bad.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Beerhunter on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 12:25pm
If you have a Dell laptop w/ Sony batteries it is probably a good idea to turn it off.... forever.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Anonymous Coward on Dec 18th, 2006 @ 1:31pm
repetative power on/offs can damage the circuitry of the compter.
be forewarned
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Holidays? by msbadol on Mar 10th, 2007 @ 12:11pm
Holidays are well over but I stumbbled over this
and wanted to know is it OK to leave your PC on
24/7 ...I turn my off every night. Is that not good?
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Add Your Comment