How much electricity does a computer use and thus its cost to run?

When I reviewed the electricity usage of appliances around the house, one device which stood out in terms of electricity usage I must say I’d never really thought about.

I’d turn the computer on in the morning and leave it on all day. I work from home so for me having the computer on made sense. Often I’d even have a couple of computers on. The children even had their computers on as well. But the real surprise wasn’t when the computers we on, it was when they were off.

An off computer isn’t off. It is in standby and it keeps consuming power. The LCD screen looks off, but again it is in standby consuming more power than you’d think. Those additional devices such as the printer, the scanner, the external drive, all sitting there sipping away at the power and ready to immediately jump into action at your beck and call, even when you are asleep.

All those devices even when not used are in standby up to 24 hours a day in some cases (such as when you go away for the weekend) and all consuming power which is costing you real money.

Yet amazingly the answer is simple. When you power down your computer turn it off also at the switch on the wall. When you power off the devices at the wall you save power, you also prevent the situation of a brown out where the power drops and your computer ends up in an unknown state and doesn’t want to work and you also reduce the chance of a power spike taking out your computer during a storm.

Determining how much your computer is costing you when it is running and how much it is costing you when it is in standby is very easy. You can purchase a cheap power meter for under $30 and measure the power usage in watts. Then use the Electricity Cost Calculator I provide,  enter the power usage, the time the device is on, or the time it is in standby and the calculator will let you know the daily cost and the yearly cost. If you use your electricity retailers tariff you’ll get an even better idea.

I’d highly recommend that everyone should measure how much the devices in their home are using. We’ve reduced our daily electricity usage to around 6.5kWh down from around 12-14kWh per day. From what I’ve read the average power usage for a home is around 18kWh. We now save around $400 to $600 a year off our electricity bill and it all started with the purchase of a low cost power meter. We’ve added a couple of convenient foot switches and one remote control power switch (all quite low cost), some simple changes to how we turn devices off and the impact on our power bill has been significant. I know I prefer the $400-$600 in my pocket than the power company’s.

I wrote the Electricity Cost Calculator to help me when selecting high cost energy efficient lights compared to the lower cost normal lights. The calculator helped me make better purchasing decisions. I found the Electricity Cost Calculator was also very handy for working out the cost of appliances we had running in the home which helped me make informed cost saving decisions. I’d found the government and media would focus my attention on what they wanted (such as installing solar panels for their carbon certificate scheme) where I could achieve the same or better result with almost no cost.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Call 0415 910 703 if your require computer assistance.
Covering Doncaster, Templestowe, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Electricity tariffs increase in January has now been adjusted in the Energy Cost Calculator

In January the price for electricity from my retailer increased as it did for a lot of people. The biggest increase which people often don’t notice, was the Service to Property Charge which increased by a staggering 25%. For me that’s another $62 added to the bill which I can’t control. I can control my usage, but when the increase is added to the Service to Property Charge that has nothing to do with usage.

I’ve now updated the Energy Cost Calculator with the latest peak energy rate which is 22 cents per kilowatt hour. The Energy Cost Calculator allows you to determine how much your devices are using over a year and the cost. It really is amazing how just a few cents a day saved on a single device can add up to quite a bit over the year.

When comparing electricity prices don’t forget to compare the Service to Property Charge as well. The best approach is to take a couple of bills and do the calculation for each bill with each of the electricity retailers you are thinking of using. I’ve seen some retailers with quite high Service to Property charges, whilst their usage rate compares well or better than others, it was when the full calculation was done they were shown to be worse than a higher usage rate.

With basic changes to our families electricity usage we’ve move than halved our electricity bill and now use around 6.5kWh per day. By using a low cost power meter and the Energy Cost Calculator, I was able to determine which devices were using how much energy, the cost per year, and with some basic changes, we now make considerable ongoing savings.

You can check out the Energy Cost Calculator at http://www.justlocal.com.au/clients/energy-cost/.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Outlook Express French spell check (spelling check) fix for British and Australian users

If you’ve installed Microsoft Office 2007 or Microsoft Office 2010, then you’ll now find the spelling check in Outlook Express only offers French spelling as an option. The options of English (United Kingdom) and English (United States) are no longer available. The other situation is if you’ve set up or purchased a computer and never installed a Microsoft application such as Office or Works, then the Outlook Express spelling check will also not be available.

Both of these situations are easily fixed using a program I’ve written. The program provides American spelling and British spelling. Whilst British spelling is sufficient for Australian users, those who have access to an older version of Office 97 or Word 97, are also provided with instructions on how to obtain the Australian dictionary so they can have Australian English spelling.

You can find the program at http://www.justlocal.com.au/clients/oespellcheck/.

Kelvin Eldridge
http://www.onlineconnections.com.au/

Search Australia search option added to JustLocal to search for Australian sites

One of the problems I have when I use Google is I either get a large list of directories and not the actual site I’m looking for, or I get large overseas sites making it near impossible to find the local site I’m interested in. Another issue is often I get government sites which effectively means the government is often competing against businesses using the money they raise from the businesses against them. Since the presence of government sites is reportedly given precedence in Google results, the business owner is again disadvantaged and their site difficult to find.

I decided to use Google’s custom search engine feature to help with this issue and added a Google Custom Search engine to the JustLocal pages. Because my desire is to help businesses flourish I’ve not included government sites at this stage, but instead sites registered using Australian domain names. Clients using domains other than an Australian domain are welcome to submit their domain for inclusion, but this may not be necessary because all clients are generally promoted on JustLocal or in the JustLocal blogs.

JustLocal isn’t a search engine, but a structured approach enabling people and businesses to find businesses in an area. By adding Google’s search engine, if people want to search, now they can.

Please enjoy,

Kelvin Eldridge
www.JustLocal.com.au

Middle Camberwell Fish and Chips menu - Example of single page web site for a small business

Do you need a single page site up on the internet for your business to let your customers and potential customers know about your products, services and contact details?

 

I regularly order fish and chips from Middle Camberwell Fish and Chips when I visit family in Camberwell. The problem is I don’t really know what they have on their menu so generally just stick with the basics, even though they have quite a bit to offer. I asked Jenny the owner, for permission to put her menu on JustLocal so I could more easily check their menu next time, make it available to other family members and that also means it is available to her customers. I also felt it would be a good example for other small business owners to see what they could easily do to help promote their businesses.  You can find the Middle Camberwell Fish and Chips menu at www.justlocal.com.au/clients/middle-camberwell-fish-and-chips/.

The work involved in putting your business information onto the internet for others to find isn’t that large, if you approach it in the right way. If you’d like a relatively low cost presence to get your business started on the internet, give me a call on 0415 910 703 or send me an email at sales@onlineconnections.com.au.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

 

Baillieu Government's Doncaster Rail Study

The alternatives have been put forward by the Baillieu Government's Doncaster Rail Study.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Manningham pokies levy jackpot

MANNINGHAM Council is expected to vote next month on increasing rates for five of the municipality’s eight pokies venues, where gamblers spent more than $65 million last year.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Apple iPad 3 Australian release date

The Apple iPad 3 has now been announced in the States. The new features are:

Higher resolution display

A5X chip with quad-core graphics

5 megapixel camera
1080p HD video
4G
Personal Hotspot for 5 other devices using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB.

The operating system has been updated to iOS 5.1 and includes some new features.

 

The iPad 2 will be reduced in price.

The Apple iPad 3 will be available in Australia on Friday the 16^th of March, which is the same time as the United States.

 

This information is provided for those interested in the Apple iPad 3. This isn’t meant to be a recommendation. You should review the iPad 3 against your requirements as you would any computing device. I assist clients with their Apple devices including services such as connecting their Apple devices to their home or business networks, setting up email, and general support.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for assistance with your computers.
Servicing Templestowe/Doncaster/Eltham and the surrounding suburbs.

iPad or Android tablet as mobile computer replacement for netbook, notebook or laptop

I have to say I was keen to try a tablet computer as a replacement for my ageing netbook. The netbook has been (and still is) a great machine. I’ve been able to run all my Windows based applications and the built-in Ethernet adaptor and wireless meant that when travelling, I could connect to both wired and wireless access at hotels. Tablets only have wireless access which rules out a lot of hotels. The attraction of the tablet is the long battery life and the slimmer form factor.

So I purchased an Apple iPad 2.

As I was working with others I noticed I was using the iPad 2 to demonstrate what a site/blog would look like on the internet, but the real work had to be done on the netbook. After a couple of weeks I felt it was absolutely crazy to be carrying both devices around. I also found many sites just didn’t work with the iPad (even those that didn’t use Flash). A major limitation for me was Apple crippled the browser so you can’t upload files using the browser, a feature I use regularly. To Apple’s credit they took the device back with a full refund.

More recently I purchased an Android based tablet (Acer A200) running Honeycomb 3.2. A number of the online sites I use are Google sites so I felt surely Google’s own sites would work better than with the iPad. How wrong I was. Google’s own sites are sluggish at best and often simply don’t work. The built-in email application is very basic and even lacks basic spellchecking. I’m hoping Android 4 will make the tablet useful, or otherwise it will have been a waste of money. When I check the reviews for Android based tablets I often see high scores. To me that simply doesn’t make sense. I’ve found the Android tablet to be flakey and the functionality far from what I expected. The Acer hardware feels well made and doesn’t feel like it is the problem. The problem is the operating system, or more specifically for me, the browser.

If you’re considering a tablet as a replacement computer make sure you try out the tablets first. Don’t just try them out in the store and hope for the best, try them with the applications/sites that you run. Putting in the passwords to use an online site isn’t something you or I would feel comfortable with in a store, so you need to find a way to get a device and try it in a real world situation.

For clients I now have an Android 3.2 tablet you can test your real world applications/sites. At the end of the test we can reset the tablet so your important information such as your passwords are wiped.

The irony is all I require is a decent browser on a tablet and I’d be happy. If Apple provided their full Safari browser I would have been happy. If Google provided their Chrome browser I would have been happy. Both companies have chosen to provide a limited experience which to me is a shame.

The lesson here is if you think a tablet device is potentially a more portable replacement for your ageing notebook or netbook, then make sure you test each of the devices in a real world situation.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require computer assistance and live

In Templestowe or the surrounding suburbs.

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mcupdate.exe can not start. File mcupdate.exe is infected by W32/Blaster.worm. Please activate Internet Security to protect your computer.

A new client from Lower Plenty dropped off their computer on Friday which had a virus. The program, Internet Security, which warned the user,  was the actual virus. As I understand it, Internet Security is a scam designed to infect the computer and then trick the user into purchasing a solution.

If you end up with the program Internet Security on your computer, you have a virus and need to get the virus removed.

I’d suggest that people obtain a fixed price quote for removing a virus. My approach is to first neutralise the virus, install the anti-virus software I have confidence in (many anti-virus products from retailers or which come with the computer I’ve found aren’t as good), perform a quick scan to locate any additional viruses and then perform a full scan which can take a number of hours. In this case the computer was a netbook and a full scan took 4-5 hours. You don’t want to be charged for the total elapsed time, just the time involved in fixing the problem. A full scan can be run whilst other work is done so there isn’t a need for the time to be charged. If you have a business and call someone out to fix the problem, you’ll often be charged the full time as the person needs to be onsite for the full amount of time.  Because I work locally, I’ll often take the computer away for clients so as to minimise the time involved.

Some virus infections are very difficult to remove. I suggest to clients to set a limit to their cost of around an hour and a half. In this case it took less time so the charge was reduced appropriately.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you need assistance with your computer.
Servicing Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Doncaster, Doncaster East,
Montmorency, Lower Plenty, Eltham, Warrandyte and Bulleen

Manningham businesses underpaying workers

THE Fair Work Ombudsman has caught four Manningham businesses underpaying workers, including a Doncaster company that underpaid 33 employees.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Manningham councillor Stephen Mayne

High-profile Manningham councillor Stephen Mayne said the plan would affect the rates of five out of eight pokies venues in Doncaster, Templestowe and Bulleen... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Bulleen Boomers' rent debt still in question

NEGOTIATIONS between the Bulleen Boomers and Manningham council to sort out $150,000 in unpaid rent are yet to be resolved, even though the club has confirmed it paid council an undisclosed sum of money in December.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

James Adams, 16, is in year 11 at Marcellin College, Bulleen, and a member of the Manningham Youth Forum.

MANNINGHAM Youth Forum meets twice a term, or more if we have important issues we need to discuss. Meetings are held at council chambers and everyone gets a turn to take the chair and take minutes. It’s us who decide where the meeting goes and what is decided. ... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Police drop pamphlets to prevent theft at Manningham shops

DONCASTER police will boost their presence in Manningham’s shopping centres after a spate of thefts from cars.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Blackouts affected 1600 United Energy customers in Bulleen and Templestowe

Blackouts affected 8000 CitiPower customers in the northern suburb of Brunswick and 1600 United Energy customers in Bulleen and Templestowe, in the city’s north-east,... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Blitz on Manningham speeding

MOTORISTS who creep over the speed limit will be targeted in a police blitz aimed at reducing the road toll. The low speed enforcement trial will target motorists who drive a few kilometres over the speed limit.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

PROPERTY prices

Doncaster East’s median was up 2 per cent from $727,500 to $741,944 in December, while Doncaster dropped almost 5 per cent from $735,000 to $700,000 at year’s end.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Eastern Freeway from before Bourke Road outbound traffic at a standstill.

I’ve just been advised the outbound traffic on the Eastern Freeway, a distance before Bourke Road, is at a standstill. The closed outbound lanes is due to a high speed crash on the freeway late this morning.

It is best to avoid the Eastern Freeway at this time. Time reported 3:32pm.

I’ve now added the Live Camera feeds from VicRoads to www.JustLocal.com.au/3105 (Bulleen page) which shows the traffic at Fairfield and Bulleen. You can see the traffic has now banked up to Fairfield and there is no outbound traffic at Bulleen as a result of the closure. Checking the Live Camera feeds before you travel on the Eastern Freeway this afternoon could save you from being caught in the traffic.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au