‘Sleeping’ computers save money Published March 6, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu 436th AW Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Team Dover can help to save the base and the Air Force money by reducing energy waste with the click of a mouse. Starting Monday users are required to "restart" their computers at the end of the duty day. However, users will still need to turn off their monitors and peripherals. When the "restart" mode is selected, the computers will remain powered on but will automatically go into a "sleep mode," which is the lowest power setting. If users don't access their computer within 20 minutes, their monitor will go into sleep mode. If the computer remains inactive for one hour, the computer itself will go into sleep mode. Users can "re-wake" their computer within three to five seconds by moving the mouse, touching a key or pressing the power button. "The capability of this new power management system will allow systems to automatically power down into 'sleep mode' during inactive periods potentially saving energy in a time when energy costs are rising," said Maj. Brandon Robinson, 436th Communications Squadron commander. "This is one of the ways the communications community is striving to leverage technology for the betterment of the Air Force enterprise network, saving the taxpayers' money and - at the same time - keeping our customers in mind," he said. The changes are part of a two-step power management program to conserve energy, lower costs and reduce the impact on the environment. The goal is to have the steps implemented Air Force-wide by April 2008. The first step consists of configuring every workstation and monitor to enter a "standby" or "sleep" mode after a period of inactivity using the Environmental Protection Agency's "Easy Group Policy Objects" software. Communications administrators will be able to "wake up" workstations as needed to install critical security, system updates or vulnerability using a new technology called Wake-on-Lan. The second step is an upgrade to the communications network to provide a stronger work station power management tool using improved technologies for conducting security scans. Air Force Network Operations is pushing every day to provide the most secure, state-of-the-art networks while reducing the overall impact on the global environment, according to Air Mobility Command communications officials. The effort to conserve energy is mandated by an executive order that all executive agencies reduce their consumption. The Air Force has already reduced use by three percent annually or 30 percent overall. By the end of 2015, the savings will amount to $15 million annually. Ask the expert Answers are provided by Robert Baird, 436th Communications Squadron network control center. What happens if I don't restart my computer? It's important to restart your computer at the end of your duty day, because the computer may or may not save the data when security patches are being installed, if it's not restarted. What if I forget and turn it off? If you turn off your computer, required security patches will not be installed. However, the next time the system is turned on the patches will automatically install, requiring in some cases, multiple reboots. By restarting your computer at the end of your duty day, it will save you time the next day when you come back on shift. If I have to restart my computer during the day, is my computer automatically going to go into sleep mode? The computer will only go in sleep mode if it is inactive for one hour and the monitor will go to sleep within 20 minutes. Users can easily "wake up" the computer with the movement of the mouse, key stroke or pressing the power button. Will projects I'm working on be lost if I'm away from my computer for more than an hour and it goes into sleep mode? No. Your work will still be on your desktop when you return. However, you will need to save your work before restarting your machine at the end of your shift. For more information, call the 436th Communications Squadron at 677-2666. Some information was provided by an Air Mobility Command news service article.