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I've recently started using an application called local cooling that helps conserve computer energy. The part I find the most interesting is that it also tells you how much energy your computer uses based on what hardware you're using. You could easily run the program to figure out your computer's energy consumption to help decide what would make the most sense - I'm sure it varies for everyone depending on how much you use each appliance.

At our house computers make up for a lot of our electricity bill. My boyfriend and I use computers a lot because we do freelance work and I take a class online too. So I would love to get one of these new Dell computers- plus I love the bamboo one.

Also, some of us live in apartments where we can't replace things like the dishwasher, so we do what we can!

We moved to a much larger space about 2 years ago and compare electric bills with the couple who lives in our old apartment. We actually use less electricity in the summer months than they do and we have 4 times the square footage.

One of the biggest differences is that we have newer laptops and they have desk tops with flat screen monitors. We are all on our computers a lot! If you can switch to a notebook computer, they do use a lot less juice. Obviously, computer technology advances much faster than other appliances, like dishwashers. Just be sure to recycle the old one.

If you really want to be a nerd about it, watch your electric meter while you use an appliance. Test with your computer both on and off. As long as your fridge or water heater doesn't cycle on during your test, you can get an idea of how much power you're using.

Hi,
I work for an Oregon electronics recycling nonprofit, NextStep Recycling, so there are just the facts I accrue almost daily.
Here are the startling facts:
The average 53-pound desktop computer and monitor requires 530 pounds of fossil fuels, 50 pounds of chemicals and 3,330 pounds of water - 1.8 metric tons in all. It takes thousands of chemicals to make a computer. The total energy used per year of owning a computer is roughly the same as a refrigerator, the most expensive home appliance in terms of cost of ownership. It's far better for the environment to hang on to a computer if possible for an extra couple of years than to recycle it and buy a new one every 3 to 4 years." Reuse and recycling reduce the negative impacts of mining and processing of raw material, including the impacts on habitat, water, and air quality. Reuse and recycling of electronics also avoids the need for plastics production and precious metal mining for circuit boards.
58% of a computer's emission happen before you buy it
Using your computer two more years is the equivalent of keeping a car off the road for a year.