The economics of cycling personal computers

Abstract This paper explores the economics of turning off (cycling) a personal computer (PC). First, it explores the costs and benefits for turning off the hardware, and describes them in simple equations. Next, it combines typical office worker salaries and typical energy usage for PCs to determine how much worker time can be spent on computer cycling for this action to be economically justified. Finally, the paper shows that the value of workers' salaries makes improvements in hardware efficiency and automatic monitor shutdown (using techniques now common in laptop computers) relatively more attractive than programmes to modify office workers' behaviour.