Green Computing

We love our computers. We use them to socialize, learn, play, work and shop. But how much electricity is that tower of yours chewing up?

In years past, computers used so little electricity that it was hardly worth bothering to find the most efficient model. Today’s machines are different. A ramped-up gamer’s machine can use up to 200 watts, most of it chewed up by the video card. If you don’t need that kind of power, look for the greenest technology that meets the newest Energy Star specifications (still being implemented), which call for using no more than 4 watts in “sleep” mode, where your computer spends most of its time.