Change Google's Background Color To Save Energy?

The_Beast

The_Beast

New Member
taken from /.

"Recent commentary at Nature Climate Change describes an on-going debate about the energy savings associated with the background colors used by high-traffic websites such as Google and the NYTimes. A back of the envelope calculation has suggested energy savings of 750 Megawatt hours per year if Google switched their background from white to black. In response, a new version of Google called Blackle was created. However, other calculations by the Wall Street Journal suggest minimal energy savings."
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If you visit Blackle they say how much energy they are saving. I saw that earlier this morning, thought it was pretty cool. Glad to see there are other /. readers here!
 
Only problem with Blackle is it's not an official Google site, so all you get is the bog standard search box. I use the google image search a lot, so Blackle isn't much use to me.
 
The_Beast said:
it's a lot more energy efficient to display darker colors than lighter one
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I think he was refering more to the calculations than to the theory. Anytime you make calculations such as how much energy would be saved by changing a background color on popular site you're going to be making a lot of assumptions.
 
even still, i would vote to have the color changed on this forum if it would save enegry. I know we're not as popular as google, but every little bit helps right?. I thought about creating a poll about it....
 
AdmnPower said:
even still, i would vote to have the color changed on this forum if it would save enegry. I know we're not as popular as google, but every little bit helps right?. I thought about creating a poll about it....
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we should have a test, then a poll
 
AdmnPower said:
even still, i would vote to have the color changed on this forum if it would save enegry. I know we're not as popular as google, but every little bit helps right?. I thought about creating a poll about it....
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This topic has been brought up time and time again. They don't want to change the layout/color scheme of CF, the admins like it how it is. The only thing they might change eventually is the logo.
 
i don't understand how changing the color from white to black could make any difference, considering the backlight of your lcd panel is always on, anyways.

I mean, the screen could be 100% black, and the backlight is still just as bright as if the screen was 100% white, the only difference is that the pixels are shaded/unshaded
 
Heyman421, there still are these things called CRT's being used for us not so rich and not gunna buy a 21inch lcd guys. :rolleyes:

Black, gross! Im sorry but "blackle" looks like absolute crap. If computer forum went black I would leave. The color scheme now is great. Even if it saves energy.

Seriously, white text on a black background, just no. -.-
 
CRT's are considerably more expensive than lcd's, and consume exponentially greater amounts of electricity (regardless of background color) so if anything, it must be the rich people who are still using CRT's
 
is this going to turn into one of those crazy thing where you hear "oh, if everyone unplugged their tv when they weren't using it we'd save this insanely huge amount of power every year"
 
heyman421 said:
CRT's are considerably more expensive than lcd's, and consume exponentially greater amounts of electricity (regardless of background color) so if anything, it must be the rich people who are still using CRT's
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CRT's have always been cheaper. Besides being able to go down to the local thrift store and picking up one for 1.50$, Newegg proves that brand new, the cheapest CRT is cheaper than the cheapest LCD.
 
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