OK, so perhaps there isn’t really such a thing, as all computers take power to run, and when we dispose of them, even for recycling, it’s often some destitute stranger in a strange land who is disassembling them with little in the way of protection from the nasty inside.

However, that’s way, way beyond the scope of this post.

You can make your computing a little friendlier to the planet, though, with a program like Edison from Verdiem.

Edison is essentially a simplified power management application for your computer. You tell it what hours are your “work” hours and your “non-work” hours, and how it should manage the PC during that time (e.g. turning off the monitor, stopping the hard drive, or putting the computer into standby). In return, it calculates your estimated energy savings and reduced carbon emissions.

Mine is set pretty moderately, only going into full standby during the wee small hours of the morning.

Estimated annual savings? 631 pounds of CO2 and $50 off the power bill.

Doesn’t sound like a lot, but that’s an extra pint of beer each month.

Mmm, saving the planet and drinking more beer. Sounds like a winner to me.