Free Software Tool Cuts PC Energy Use

If you’re looking for a very easy way to cut your computer energy use and save money, Verdiem Software and the Climate Savers Computing Initiative have released a free energy-saving software application called Edison.

The simple to use software tool works with Windows XP and Windows Vista machines and you dictate which hours you use your computer most, choose the level of energy savings you want to achieve (using a sliding scale), and then it calculates your estimated savings based on the setting you choose. You can find and download the 28 megabyte application at their Web site.

According to John Skinner of Intel, more than half of the energy being used by computers is wasted because a significant percentage of people do not use the computer power management features on their computers. A typical home PC uses enough electricity to emit 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. That's a lot of wasted energy! And energy our organizations are paying for with monthly electric bills.