( L - R ) PC, Wii, 360, PS3
What, games don't run on gas? Yes, they do, at least in Jamaica. The Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS), our source for generating energy, uses crude oil. No dams, no windmills, no nuclear energy, no bio-gas and definitely no solar energy. Imported bulk oil runs the 'fuel efficient' generators at a whopping US$138 a barrel. Oh, that was last week Friday's price, it could be get worse.So, with that, established Gamers' Lounge decided to examine some of the ways that money can be saved while gaming.
First, let's look at the consoles being used. If you happen to have a second generation console like the Xbox360 or Nintendo Wii, you are already in luck, as you do not need a line stabiliser to correct JPS's fluctuating electricity. These consoles come with line conditioners built into their adapters. For consoles such as the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and Xbox 1, using a stabiliser can save you some serious cash, not only on the light bill, but in the overall life span of the equipment that you are using.
Fluctuation in electricity causes your devices to work twice as hard to get the same results. The simplest route to get your electricity stabilised is to buy a UPS; VA700 or bigger will do you just fine.
Most efficient
In terms of usage, the Xbox360 uses an average of 185 watts per hour, PS3 uses an average of 196 watts per hour and a Wii uses a meagre 18 watts per hour. It is obvious which one is the most efficient. This can lead to huge savings for you and, in turn, the country.
Second, we need to look at the equipment used with the consoles, such as television sets. You do not need to use a 42" or 32" television to play your games. A 20" set will work just as good. Don't cry now, the difference can be as much as 280 watts per hour. A small TV roughly uses 70 watts per hour, while a large TV uses 350 watts per hour. So five hours of game play would save you 1400 watts. In one month, you would save 42,000 watts, which is J$1,035 on your light bill.
It is also recommended that instead of a Hi-Fi system for surround sound, use a computer surround sound system. You can save more than 100 watts and the job is done just the same.
Third, the most effective way to save gas in the whole scheme of things is to turn off the system and plug it out. Yes, plug it out, the game console and any other device attached.
Surge protector
If you have a power strip or a surge protector, you can just flip that switch and everything will be free of standby current. So how much will you save? Let's assume you only use this equipment eight hours a day. That would mean that they are in standby mode for 16 hours each day. Television uses 2.4 watts in standby mode and the PS3 and Xbox360 use, on average, 2.5 watts, for the year, that is, 5840 hours for each device; and so, by doing this for both your TV and console, you would save J$719.78 in oil per year. Remember, oil equals light in Jamaica and saving on your light bill not only saves your money, but saves your oil dependency.
Did you know?
1. A 40-watt compact florescent bulb only uses 11 watts per hour?
2. Five per cent of a home user's electricity bill is usually due to the standby mode.
3. Hot plates, a small A/C unit, an iron and a microwave all use 1200 watts per hour.
GameYaad.com
Shop #18 Hagley Park Plaza. Tel: 876 754 6453. Email: info@gameyaad.com.
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