by Anura Guruge
on July 28, 2022
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I know it is because of my new PC & printer BECAUSE I set out to reduce my electric bill with these two purchases.
By PC, I refer to my Desktop PC which is really the ONLY computer I use — other than my Android tablet & Pixel 6 Pro phone. I don’t have a laptop. Laptops are physically too small for my needs. [I do have two other desktop PCs as backups.]
I got this new PC in late October last year after using my prior desktop, continuously, on a daily basis (unless I was travelling) for 12-years!
My main desktop PC stays on for an average of 14-hours A DAY, 7 DAYS a WEEK. So, it uses a fair amount of power. I have known that.
My old, 12-year old PC was a power-hog. I knew that.
When I was designing the new PC I was DETERMINED to get one of the new, energy efficient CPUs. I lucked out. I got a 6-core, i5-11400F (4.4Ghz) with a MAX power draw of 65W. Yep, max. 65 Watts. That is less than an average incandescent bulb. The 6-core i5 was ALL that I needed. Yes, I had downgraded. My older PC had a i7 — albeit a 1st gen i7 from 2010. This i5, of course, is faster & uses much less power. WIN-WIN.
I also retired my laser printer. I still have it, but it is powered off most of the time. That was another power hog. Instead, I now have a cheap, but efficient ink-jet printer.
That is how I reduced my electric bill by over 20%. Only major change we made. Still use the same amount of A/C etc. & we did get any new (more efficient) A/Cs in the last year.
