Unpopular opinion: I thought leaving computers on for updates was fine, but the power bill changed my mind.

I used to keep my work computer on all night so security updates could run automatically. Then I saw how much energy it was wasting and how that adds up for the grid. Now I just schedule updates for right before I start my day in the morning. It still gets the patches done fast without the extra drain. Kind of a win-win for staying safe and cutting down on juice.

3 comments

3 Comments

jordan_owens1mo ago

Read somewhere that office computers on standby drain enough juice to run a small town. Scheduling updates like you do is a slick move. Cuts the bill and still gets the job done.

taylor_clark651mo ago

My old desktop used to cost like $10 a month just being on standby. Got a smart power strip that kills all the vampire drain overnight, it's crazy how much that adds up.

sarahpatel1mo ago

Taylor_clark65, your setup sounds efficient, but that $10 a month estimate seems high for newer devices. Many modern computers sip very little power on standby thanks to better energy rules. Cutting all power overnight might interrupt important system updates or cause wear from constant rebooting. Checking your actual energy use with a meter could give a clearer picture before adding more gadgets. Sometimes just unplugging a few things or using sleep mode does the trick without extra cost.