Reduced energy usage can on the other hand impact a PC’s performance up to the point where it is no longer reasonable and needs to be turned off completely.

Granola, formerly known as MicroMiser, is a energy saving software for Windows and Linux computer systems that uses algorithms to find the ideal balance between energy saving and performance requirements.

It works in this regard much like similar applications such as Local Cooling or Edison that we have reviewed in the past.

The cross-platform application Granola offers an unobtrusive method of saving energy. It concentrates its energy saving efforts on the cpu by using dynamic voltage and frequency scaling technologies. It basically means that the cpu will be lowered or raised depending on the power requirements of the system.

Granola runs quietly in the background displaying energy saving information in its interface when opened. This includes the projected kWh, money and CO2 that is saved yearly if the software is used throughout the year. Examples are given on how much energy is saved.

It is possible to save some energy with Granola. It would be nice if the software would not only regulate the cpu energy consumption but that of other PC hardware as well. It is possible to use the standard power saving options to do that but a software that would handle all of those to compute the energy savings would be more than welcome.

Users who are interested in trying out Granola can download the software at the developer’s website where it is offered for Linux and Windows computer systems. (via Technobuzz)

The test compared the on, off and idle states of the devices if applicable listing the weekly, monthly and yearly energy consumption and costs in a table. The Playstation 3 is by far the most energy hungry device in the test followed by a 42″ Plasma TV and the Xbox 360 while the Nintendo Wii consumes only a tenth of the energy the Playstation 3 needs.

I could go on but the essence, the real important information can be found when comparing the idle energy consumption with the one when the device is turned off. Lots of money can be saved by turning the devices off instead of leaving them in idle mode. The Playstation 3 for instance consumes 1655.20 Kwh per year in idle mode but only 15.53 Kwh when turned off.

It does not make much sense to turn off the gaming console the whole year to save energy but it makes perfectly sense to turn it off when no one is playing. If you want to cut all costs you simply disconnect the power supply from the device.

Someone with a Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 would pay more than $420 per year for both devices even if they would be in idle mode most of the time. Please note that you have to check the local costs of 1 Kwh and calculate the expenses this way. It could very well be that you would be paying more or less depending on the energy costs in your country.

I usually cut the power supply that powers my LCD TV, Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, Playstation 2 and Xbox whenever I’m not using those devices to save energy. I do not cut the power supply on my computer though, mainly because it does not make a huge difference.

Are you saving energy, if so how ?