Columbia University Housing

Our computers are our lifelines, but they are also huge energy drains. Fortunately, you have lots of options on how to make your own computer greener. For even more tips on Green Computing around Columbia’s campus, check out the Guide to Green Computing on the OES website.

 

• You can make sure to buy green when buying a computer or computer-related devices. Keep in mind that laptops use 50% to 80% less energy than desktops, and LCD screens use 50% to 70% less energy than their CRT counterparts. Also, look for the Energy Star label on any computer or electronic device that you are buying.
  
  
• Set your computer to sleep or hibernate mode when it’s not in use, and go ahead and shut it down if you aren't going to use it for more than three minutes (on average, that's when energy to turn it on is outweighed by the energy needed to keep it running). And PS: screen savers don't "save" any energy at all!
  
  

  • Instructions for Enabling Power Management

    On Windows computers, power management settings can be accessed by clicking Start>Control Panel>Display>Screen Saver>Power.
    
    On Macintosh computers running OS 9, these settings can be accessed by clicking Apple Menu>Control Panels>Energy Saver>Sleep Setup. For OS X, the location is Apple Menu>Show All>Energy Saver (on the Hardware row).
    
    For detailed instructions, including screen shots showing each step in the configuration process, consult the Energy Star site.
    
    
• Help us save some trees by always printing and copying double-sided. Every Columbia computer lab printer has this option under the drop-down list of printers.
  
  
• If you have to get rid of it, donate your old computer to Columbia or to a community organization like Per Scholas in the South Bronx: .