This may seem like a simple and unimportant subject to write about, but I have to say, I get this question an awful lot these days.

Here it is: How often should I turn off my computer completely?

Years ago, there was an epidemic of computer power switches that started failing because the computers were constantly being turned on an off.  At that time, the computer would basically cease to function at that point.  So, it became common knowledge that it was better to leave the computer on most of the time.

We currently live in a very different environment.  People are much more concerned now about power consumption (and cost) than they were in late 80's and early 90's. Computer design and hardware function is also much better than it was then.

So, in case you are wondering, there is no real danger of power switch failure from turning your computer off and on many times. At home, I turn off my computers when I am not using them, period.  At work, I will leave my computer on typically all day, but have it set to go into power save mode after 1 hour of inactivity.  I turn off my computer at work at the end of every day.

Estimated power savings from turning off your computer when not in use range from $20 - $60 per computer per year.  This may not seem like much, but at an organization like the Norris School District, that can add up to monster numbers.

We are currently working on an initiative to save energy using a combination of software and training that I believe will save the district around $30,000 per year!  This is big money that can be used in better ways, especially during major budget cuts.