Next time you're in the market for a new computer, look for one with the Energy Star logo (pictured below). Energy Star computers consume 15 to 25 percent less energy than standard new computers, according to the Climate Savers Computing Initiative.

Whether you are using a Mac or PC, a laptop or a desktop, your computer has power-management features that can help you save money, reduce your impact on the environment, and extend the life of your hardware.

Last week, we advocated shutting (or powering) down your computer if you weren't planning on using it for a period of two or more hours. This week, we'll introduce you to your computer's energy-saving features, which you can use even if you're only stepping away from your computer for as little as 15 to 20 minutes.

Reducing your computer's power consumption can be a surprisingly easy way to save money, do a little something for the planet, and extend your equipment's life.

There are three ways to manage the power consumption of your computer:

TechSoup’s new GreenTech initiative promotes and supports environmental responsibility in the nonprofit community by providing green-related technology articles, resources, and opportunities for community discussion on the TechSoup online forums.

By helping nonprofits "go green," we hope to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint and contribute to the responsible stewardship of the Earth’s environment. Visit our GreenTech page to learn more!

Does your organization perceive "going green" as being more expensive than maintaining the status quo? Before you launch an initiative to green your organization, we suggest you attempt to measure both your environmental footprint and the costs per employee to your organization in energy bills, technology purchases, and paper. (Measuring per employee allows you to account for organizational growth.)