In today’s society, environmental awareness is at an all-time high. Many people are looking for the next best way to reduce their carbon footprint and increase their energy efficiency. If you are one of those people wanting to improve their energy efficiency, upgrading your laptop can be a good start.
Upgrading any appliance will probably result in lower energy costs simply because newer models will be more efficient. However, certain models are made with an emphasis on efficiency, and going out for one of these will give you the best results. But how exactly will one of these laptops save you on energy costs and reduce your impact on the environment?
Energy efficient laptops require a lower energy output to operate, resulting in better battery life. The batteries themselves are designed to last longer, so you won’t spend as much time charging your laptop. In terms of cost, you can generally expect to pay the same amount for an energy efficient laptop, so keep your eye out for items that are ENERGY STAR certified. Items with this certification meet government-set standards for typical and annual energy consumption, guaranteeing energy efficiency.
Energy efficient laptops use various features to keep energy consumption low. Like most computers, these laptops come with sleep mode settings. Energy efficient laptops, however, have a lower-power sleep mode than standard laptop computers. Typically, you can adjust this setting to kick in after a designated period of time spent inactive. While this may seem like a small aspect of energy efficiency, users of energy efficient laptops can expect to save nearly $35 annually just as a result of having a lower-power sleep mode setting.
Three popular models of energy efficient laptops are:
- The Acer Chromebook
This laptop has a 4-cell Lithium Ion battery that has a maximum run time of 11 hours. - The Apple Macbook Air
Depending on the size of the model you purchase, these laptops can have battery lives from 9 to 12 hours. - The Lenovo Thinkpad X240
While almost all of Lenovo’s products are energy efficient, this laptop is one of the strongest. Fully charged, this laptop offers an incredible 17 hour battery life.
These models require low energy input to run, and on top of their energy efficiency, they boast green construction. This means that the production of these products was not harmful to the environment, which is just another thing to feel good about.
