If you’re wondering when you should turn off your personal computer for energy savings, here are some general guidelines from the Department of Energy to help you make that decision.

Though there is a small surge in energy when a computer starts up, this small amount of energy is still less than the energy used when a computer is running for long periods of time.

• Turn off the monitor if you aren’t going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes.

• Turn off both the CPU and monitor if you’re not going to use your PC for more than 2 hours.

• Make sure your monitors, printers, and other accessories are on a power strip/surge protector. When this equipment is not in use for extended periods, turn off the switch on the power strip to prevent it from drawing power even when shut off.

energysavers.gov