Blackle not an energy saver, but an energy user?

Blackle is basically a black version of Google (not related to Google), started by Toby Heap, a Sydney-based research fellow at the University of Sydney who studies exercise physiology.

The reason Heap started Blackle was to provide a source of energy savings for computer users, claiming that the black background will help monitors use less energy. The problem is that two different studies that I've found have claimed that it doesn't do so. As a matter of fact, Blackle may increase the amount of energy used for some monitors, so before you change your blog background color to black, read on.

The studies:

1. Techlogg: Blackle vs Google power savings – the final test
Written by Darren Yates
Wednesday, 08 August 2007

2. Wall Street Journal: Does a Darkened Google Really Save Electricity?
The Numbers Guy
Carl Bialik examines the way numbers are used, and abused
May 11, 2007, 2:57 pm

Summary:

1. For LCD monitors 22" or smaller, Blackle increased energy usage.
2. For most LCD monitors larger than 22", Blackle fractionally decreases energy usage by an average of 3.16 watts.
3. For the ViewSonic VX2835wm, there was a 2.2 watt increase in energy usage.
4. For CRT monitors, Blackle reduces energy usage, but by a substantially lesser amount than claimed by Heap.

The Verdict:

• If you are using a CRT monitor, you could use Blackle to reduce energy usage. The difference is small, but the ocean is nothing but a lot of drops of water.
• If you are using an LCD monitor, for god's sake don't use Blackle. Unless you've gone black and you can't go back. That's excusable.
• While some say that Heap only started Blackle to get the advertising revenue (it works the same way that Google does), you could argue that he is sincere.

How to do your bit:

In response to these findings, Google and Techlogg have both published simple ways in which to save energy while using your computer:

From Google:

• Turn on the power management features.
• Turn off your monitor and computer when you're not using them.
• Turn down the brightness on your monitor.
• Make sure your next computer meets the efficiency standards of Climate Savers Computing (an efficient computer uses up to 50% less energy than a conventional one) to find the most efficient PCs available today, look for the words "EnergyStar 4.0 compliant."

From Techlogg:

• Turn off your PC after work
• Drop the screen brightness
• Switch of your ADSL modem at night
• Switch everything off at the wall
• Set your desktop PC power management

References:

1. Official Google Blog: Is black the new green?, http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/is-black-new-green.html
2. techlogg.com: Blackle vs Google power savings - the final test, http://techlogg.com/content/view/360/31/
3. techlogg.com: Five simple ways to save electricity with your computer, http://techlogg.com/content/view/367/
4. The Age: Search site cashes in on eco-guilt, http://www.theage.com.au/news/web/search-site-cashes-in-on-ecoguilt/2007/08/01/1185647951527.html?page=2