Doing My Part for the Planet

Let me just say before I get on my rant here. I believe we each can do something each day to be more "GREEN". I want to try to save this planet that I love and live on. I don't litter, and I try to do what I can when I remember.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a Green Ambassador or anything like that. But I do try in my own way.

So, now, on to my rant!

A Curious Client Conversation

I was at a client’s office the other day, and we were discussing a project we were currently working on and a few other ideas we had to help save them some money with their IT needs.

That’s when he asked me about something called Blackle.

At first, I thought it was some sort of TV show or a new computer program. But he told me it was a new "Green Friendly Search Engine."

What Is Blackle?

Naturally, I wanted to know more. I mean how can going to a web page and searching for “Great Pizza joint Charleston, SC” be any greener than using a phone book?

Turns out, he’s on a committee to help their company become greener, and someone had sent him the site. He wanted my thoughts before diving in.

He showed me the site and explained the claim:

“Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black.”
They even quote a government article on power saving and Energy Star, but the author emphasizes that the effects are more for CRT displays rather than LCDs.

From Curiosity to Frustration

I was really confused at first and then it turned to aggravation.

I really believe that some of the world just doesn’t think.

I mean, how many pink elephants go dancing across my screen if I send this email to 24 of my friends in the next 10 minutes? Try it now. Oh, it REALLY WORKS!!! I tried it too!!!

Yeah, right.

The Bandwagon Effect

This is what I’m talking about too many people jump on the bandwagon before they check the facts.

I think that’s why TV works for so many people. You hear it from someone you trust, and then you trust it.

This is how viruses attack.

I won’t go into all of that it’s a totally different post.

So, why was Blackle created?

Blackle was developed to reduce the amount of energy that your computer uses when searching the internet. The site also aims to remind users to save energy and do their part.

Think about how many times a day you open Google, MSN, Bing, or your preferred search engine. Personally, I open Google at least 50 or 60 times a day.

If you haven’t seen Blackle yet, it’s essentially Google’s search engine wrapped in a black background. The idea is that by using a darker screen, you can help save the planet one computer at a time. That’s the claim, anyway.

The Logic Behind the Black Screen

To someone unfamiliar with display technology, this might sound logical. If the screen is black, the light must be off, right? That should save energy just like turning off the lights in your house.

I can’t count how many times my parents said, “Turn your lights off!” So, naturally, it seems like Blackle should work.

The Reality of LCD Technology

Not quite. In fact, it actually takes more energy to use this site especially on modern LCD screens.

Here’s why: LCD is what I call a “pass-through light” technology. Light passes through a panel that changes colors. The panel itself doesn’t emit light. The backlight is always on until you turn off your computer.

Think of an old digital watch. When you pressed the button to see the time in the dark, the light shined through the LCD display. If the battery was dead, it didn’t work. To see the black numbers, it needed power.

LCD displays work the same way. It takes more energy to turn a pixel black than to leave it white. White = no power to the pixel. The darker the screen, the more energy is used. Different colors require different voltages.

Why Black Isn’t Always Green

Most people today use LCD monitors not CRTs or plasma screens. So, when you see black on your screen, it’s not saving energy. It’s actually using more.

Black is just a bunch of pixels blocking light from shining through. The video card tells the monitor to turn those pixels on, and the monitor needs power to do that.

A Better Way to Be Green

So, to all the environmentalists out there: keep using plain old Google.

If you still have a CRT monitor, do the world a favor recycle it and get an LCD. That’s about as green as you can get.

If you already have an LCD, reduce your screen brightness from 100% to 60% or 70%. That’s how you can really make a difference.

Want to Learn More?

If you’re curious about how LCD technology works, there are plenty of great resources online. Let me know if you’d like me to recommend a few!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCD_TV#Basic_LCD_concepts

Contact Kotori Technologies today!