Tech for Writers
Q: Can I go green and still browse endlessly? I confess–I’m addicted, but I want to do what’s right.
A: Go to Blackle.com. Instead of a white background, it’s black which has saved 2,440,165.420 Watt hours as of the hour I checked.
Blackle was created by Heap Media to remind us all of the need to take small steps in our everyday lives to save energy. Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black. “…a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen.” Roberson et al, 2002
In January 2007 a blog post titled Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year proposed the theory that a black version of the Google search engine would save a fair bit of energy due to the popularity of the search engine. Since then there has been skepticism about the significance of the energy savings that can be achieved and the cost in terms of readability of black web pages.
To the naysayers, Blackle responds, “We believe that there is value in the concept because even if the energy savings are small, they all add up. Secondly we feel that seeing Blackle every time we load our web browser reminds us that we need to keep taking small steps to save energy.”
Questions you want answered? Email me at askatechteacher@structuredlearning.net and I’ll answer it within the next thirty days.
Jacqui Murray is the editor of a technology curriculum for K-sixth grade, creator of two technology training books for middle school and four ebooks on technology in education. She is the author of Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, Cisco guest blog, IMS tech expert, and a bi-weekly contributor to Write Anything. Currently, she’s editing a thriller that should be out to publishers this summer. Contact Jacqui at her writing office or her tech lab, Ask a Tech Teacher.
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, Cisco guest blog,Technology in Education featured blogger, IMS tech expert, and a bi-monthly contributor to Today’s Author. In her free time, she is the editor of a K-8 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum, and creator of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a thriller that should be out to publishers next summer. Contact Jacqui at her writing office or her tech lab, Ask a Tech Teacher.
An interesting concept! I do prefer a white screen, it’s easier for me to use than a black one (I still use some old computer technology via work that has a black screen). But I am definitely up for the “every little helps” when it comes to energy-saving. Even if we all only tried this for an hour each day – think of all the savings!
By: Nicky on July 31, 2012
at 2:15 am
And still, I don’t use it. For the reason you mentioned–white’s easier. I’ll have to do my saving in other areas.
By: Jacqui Murray on July 31, 2012
at 7:04 am
I never would have thought of this. Wow! and thanks!
By: Ms. Nine on July 31, 2012
at 9:24 am
Me either. All these little things we don’t know.
By: Jacqui Murray on July 31, 2012
at 1:00 pm
Thanks, Jacqui! I prefer a darker screen, myself, I find the white irritating.
By: Rachel Creager Ireland on July 31, 2012
at 10:41 am
That’s interesting. I don’t mind the dark; it’s the white letter contrast that I find difficult.
By: Jacqui Murray on July 31, 2012
at 1:00 pm
I wonder how other colors compare?
By: Rachel Creager Ireland on July 31, 2012
at 10:44 am
Good question. I assume black, as the absence of color, saves the most energy. I may be way off base.
By: Jacqui Murray on July 31, 2012
at 1:01 pm
What an interesting thought! I wonder if the black would be too depressing though.
By: Energy Saving Switch on August 27, 2012
at 11:46 pm
I think helping the environment would cheer users up.
By: Jacqui Murray on August 28, 2012
at 6:43 pm