Screensaver communication and sustainability

Isn't powersave mode better for for the environment?

More organizations are switching computers into power save mode rather than using screensavers. However, screensaver communications have an important part to play in sustainability initiatives. Even when computers are in power save mode, energy is still being consumed. SnapComms recommend using screensavers for a short period of time before putting computers into power save mode. Why?
Even if a screensaver is up for just 5 minutes before power save kicks in, it offers valuable internal communications real estate and messages do get seen.
Screensavers are an excellent way to promote wider sustainability initiatives such as switching off computers at night, switching of lights, recycling etc. A LBNL study that found that in the various buildings surveyed about 20% of the monitors and 60% of the CPUs were left on all night. The cost versus impact equation is excellent in favor of screensavers messages to promote sustainability (as well as other) messages..
When power save causes a computer to turn on and off more than a few times each day it can can shorten the working lives of some components meaning that components and/or computers have to be replaced more frequently. Maximizing longevity of a computer is an important part of it's environmental footprint. Even if your organization replaces a computer before it fails (which of course it typically does) a working computer can be donated or recycled where as a failed computer typically needs to be disposed of.

Then, just think about the paper you will save by putting content into screensavers rather than printing posters, flyers etc...